- GILBERT BAYORAN
Negros Occidental remains ASF (African Swine Fever) free, despite the reported deaths of 2,421 pigs in the province due to hog cholera, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Tuesday, May 16.
Based on the laboratory examinations of the Department of Agriculture, Lacson said that 18 of the 27 samples they sent yielded negative results.
ASF and hog cholera cases manifest similar symptoms, Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Placida Lemana, explained.
Lacson presided over the emergency meeting on Animal Biosecurity and Current Hog Disease situation in the province, where the threat of highly contagious diseases among pigs was discussed.
The meeting also tackled the implementation of biosecurity measures and inter-LGU movement regulation of animals, in order to protect the P6 billion swine industry of the province.
To stop the spread of hog cholera, Lacson ordered the setting up of border control among local government units, to “protect also good standing barangays”.
Lacson issued an executive order creating the Provincial Incident Management Team, similar to the PIMT on COVID-19, to focus on swine diseases.
The culling of pigs is confined in the 3rd and 4th districts of Negros Occidental, composed of 11 towns and cities, which are now being red-flagged.
In San Enrique town, which forms part of the 4th district, Mayor Jilson Tubillara reported that 736 pigs being raised in backyards, died of hog cholera, excluding those unreported, which may reached more than 1,000 since April.
Tubillara said all barangays of his town are affected by hog cholera, and that pigs die every day in San Enrique.
He expressed fears that all pigs in the town might die of hog cholera.
They even used a heavy backhoe to bury dead hogs, while some were thrown into a river by irresponsible backyard raisers, Tubillara said.
Hog cholera, also called swine fever or classical swine fever, is a serious and often fatal viral disease, characterized by high fever and exhaustion, according to the Department of Health.
Despite the hog cholera deaths and possible shortage of pork in the market, Lacson said they will not stop commercial hog raisers from delivering outside of the province, where they have commitments.
Negros Occidental is also among the top exporters of pork products in the country./GB
