- GILBERT BAYORAN
Victorias City in Negros Occidental logged nine confirmed African swine fever cases, of which seven ASF positive pigs came from Brgy. Anahaw in Hinigaran, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and City Veterinarian, Dr. Michael John Cabuguason, said Tuesday, June 6.
Earlier, the agriculture department’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) detected ASF cases in one barangay of Pulupandan and two barangays of the highly-urbanized Bacolod City.
In a joint press briefing with Benitez, Cabuguason said there were two cases of ASF local infection in Brgy. 5, Victorias, while seven of the 15 pigs transported to the Victorias Food Corporation (VFC) slaughterhouse at the Victorias Milling Company, also tested positive for the ASF virus.
The results of the tests were validated by the DA Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Iloilo.
The two areas were already contained, based on the guidelines set by the BAI, Cabuguason said.
Fortunately, there is no other piggery and existing backyard hog raisers in Brgy. 5, Victorias City within the 500-meter ground zero radius, while the VFC was ordered to stop its pig slaughtering operation and its slaughter and storage areas immediately disinfected.
Benitez stressed that “this is not a public health concern, this is an economic concern”, apparently referring to detection of ASF cases in Victorias, noting that the city has a hog population of 1,584, which is about a P16 million swine industry.
While 95 percent of hog population is covered by insurance, Benitez said they are exploring how to minimize the impact of ASF on livelihood, especially of those solely dependent on backyard hog raising.
As to the possible declaration of a state of calamity, Benitez and Cabuguason said they have to consult first with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
As of June 5, hog deaths in Negros Occidental increased to 10,369, with damage to swine industry pegged at P118,149, 325, or 9.17 percent of the total 113,107 hog population.
While the provincial government of Negros Occidental is extending P4 million in cash aid to selected hog raisers, the Bacolod City government is readying P10 million cash indemnification to hog raisers affected by ASF.
On the other hand, Ilog Municipal Agriculturist Rodante Perez also reported the increasing number of hog deaths in Brgy. Calubang, from June 1 up to yesterday.
Perez confirmed that more than 100 pigs already died in just five days.
Blood samples have already been taken from dead hogs, and immediately sent to the BAI for laboratory testing, as they further strengthened biosecurity measures, including the conduct of checkpoints, to contain the spread of animal diseases to other Ilog barangays, he added./GB
