- GILBERT BAYORAN
With the unabated daily increase in hog deaths due to diseases, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday, June 12, urged hog raisers in Negros Occidental to sell early their pigs and to desist from engaging in swine repopulation.
Lacson noted a reduction of P30 per kilo live weight, especially in areas affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) and other hog diseases.
As of June 11, total hog deaths in 126 affected barangays in 16 local government units rose to 12,139, or 9.26 percent of the total swine population in Negros Occidental.
While there were hog deaths on daily basis, the number of deaths has gone down already, Lacson said, adding that hog cholera is still prevalent in most swine deaths.
“As to the measures, we are doing still the same as spelled out in the protocols issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry in case of hog mortalities,” the governor said.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is now facilitating the release 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 (cash assistance) will be per family, Lacson said.
Damage to the hog industry due to swine diseases already reached P136,311,800, as per the Provincial Veterinary Office report.
As to the possible declaration of a state of calamity due to hog deaths, Lacson said they can do that if 50 percent of Negros Occidental is affected by the hog deaths.
“As of now, I think we are over 10 percent,” he said, noting that 16 of 31 LGUs are reporting swine mortalities.
Anticipating typhoons that may hit the country with the start of the rainy season this month, Lacson also said “it is not prudent to immediately tap the calamity funds.”/GB
