Bacolod City – Cases of deadly African Swine Fever have spread further to Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental, increasing to four the number of local government units with ASF cases in the province.
Mayor Nadie Arceo reported that two pigs tested positive for ASF in Brgy. Cambaog, Hinigaran.
The seven hogs that earlier tested positive for ASF at the slaughterhouse of Victorias Food Corporation in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was discovered to have originated from Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran, as reported by Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez.
The Bureau of Animal Industry also reported the detection of a pig infected by ASF in Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran.
Brgys. Cambaog and Anahaw, both in Hinigaran, are presently cordoned off to prevent the transport of hogs outside of the affected barangays.
Of the 541 dead hogs in Hinigaran, Arceo reported that 317 are from Brgy. Cambaog, Hinigaran.
He also said that the Hinigaran municipal government will provide financial assistance of P500 for each dead piglet and P1,000 for adult pigs, noting that only 10 percent of affected hog raisers are covered by insurance.
ASF cases have also been detected in the cities of Bacolod, Silay and Victorias, as well as Pulupandan in Negros Occidental, as well as the towns of Dauin and Sibulan in Negros Oriental.
Arceo reported that 12 barangays in Hinigaran have been affected by swine diseases, and 541 hogs have already died.
As of June 20, pig deaths in Negros Occidental are at 13,718, causing losses amounting to P154,331,4254, according to reports of the Provincial Veterinarian Office. Affected are 2,691 hog raisers in 140 barangays of 17 of the 31 local government units in the province, the PVO report further said. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star, photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency)
