BACOLOD CITY – With unabated daily increase in hog deaths due to diseases, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson urged hog raisers in Negros Occidental, to sell their pigs early and to desist from engaging in swine repopulation.
Lacson noted a reduction of P30 per kilo for live weight, especially in areas affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) and other hog diseases.
As of June 11, the total hog deaths in 126 affected barangays of 16 local government units further rose to 12,139, or 9.26 percent of the total swine population in Negros Occidental.
While there are hog deaths on daily basis, the number of deaths has been reducing, Lacson said, adding that hog cholera is still the prevalent cause of most swine deaths.
As to the measures in case of hog mortalities, we are doing still the same, as spelled out in protocols issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry, he added.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is now facilitating the giving out of financial aid to selected hog raisers, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
It will be per family, Lacson stressed.
The damage to hog industry due to swine diseases is pegged at P136,311,800, according to PVO reports.
As to the possible declaration of state of calamity due to hog deaths, Lacson said they can do that if 50 percent of Negros Occidental areas affected by the hog deaths. As of now, “I think we are we’re over 10 percent now, noting that 16 of 31 LGUs are experiencing swine mortalities.”
Anticipating typhoons that may hit the country, as the rainy season starts June, Lacson also said that “it is not prudent to immediately tap the calamity funds.” (Gilbert Bayoran via TVDS photo by TVDS)
