- GILBERT BAYORAN
The African swine fever and hog cholera diseases that hit the swine industry may trigger a shortage in the supply of pork in Negros Occidental, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Diaz said that they are anticipating a shortage of swine supply, noting also an increase in the prices of pork to as much as P300 per kilo.
Records of the Provincial Veterinary Office indicated that hog fatalities reached 17,801, representing 9.96 percent of the 164,334 total hog population in Negros Occidental.
Diaz also reported that the province’s hog industry incurred losses amounting to almost P200 million. At the same time, hog cholera and ASF struck 3,536 hog raisers, affecting 153 barangays in 20 towns and cities of Negros Occidental.
He reported that backyard raisers were the hardest hit by swine diseases, as commercial hog raisers have continued producing hogs.
Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Placeda Lemana, reported earlier that hog shipments from Negros Occidental to other areas of the country dropped significantly, at almost 70 percent, last month.
But Lemana said that Negros Occidental continues to experience zero hog mortalities for more than a month now.
Diaz said that they are still in the process of documenting areas in the province that have been affected by swine diseases.
Instead of giving indemnification funds to affected hog raisers, Diaz said they are considering to use it as rehabilitation fund, with the approval of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
On Monday, Lemana disclosed that they are formulating guidelines and protocols for local government units to adopt to start the hog sentineling program, a prelude to the hog repopulation.
Before the sentineling program, backyard hog raisers must be ready for the ASF recovery program by cleaning and disinfecting the areas where the sentinel hogs would be placed, she added.
Diaz explained that it will be the farmers who will raise “sentinel” piglets in their respective areas. If it survives for a period of time, then the provincial government will provide them with swine for breeding as well as P2,000 financial assistance as startup capital.
Those who can comply with the requirements will be given priority in the swine dispersal program, he added./GB
