- GILBERT BAYORAN
Cases of the African Swine Fever (ASF) have spread in Hinigaran town of Negros Occidental, although the number of hog deaths in the province is slowing down, as reported earlier by Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz.
Mayor Nadie Arceo reported Wednesday, June 21, that two pigs in Brgy. Cambaog, Hinigaran tested positive for ASF.
Previously, seven hogs that came from Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran also tested positive for ASF at the slaughterhouse of the Victorias Food Corporation in Victorias City.
The Bureau of Animal Industry confirmed the ASF case in Brgy. Anahaw.
Both Cambaog and Anahaw have been cordoned off to prevent the transport of hogs outside of these barangays.
Arceo reported that 317 pigs in Cambaog have died.
He also revealed plans of the Hinigaran municipal government to extend cash aid to affected raisers, at P500 for each piglet and P1,000 per adult pig.
He said only 10 percent of the hog raisers are covered with insurance.
Arceo reported that 12 barangays of Hinigaran have already been affected by swine diseases, of which 541 hogs died.
ASF cases were also detected in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, and Victorias, as well as Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental, and Dauin and Sibulan towns in Negros Oriental.
As of June 20, pig deaths in Negros Occidental numbered 13,718, causing losses of P154,331,4254 to the hog industry, the Provincial Veterinary Office said.
The swine deaths affected 2,691 hog raisers in 140 barangays in 17 of the 31 local government units in the province, the PVO report added.
However, daily hog deaths went down to 140 to 150 a day, from its peak of more than 400, Diaz said Tuesday.
He noted that the hog population in some local government units has almost been wiped out, while other LGUs not affected by swine diseases are confident that they have enough protection./GB
