- GILBERT BAYORAN
Hog deaths in Negros Occidental have been slowing down, although losses in the swine industry almost breached the P200-million mark, as of July 17.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson reported Wednesday that average daily swine deaths stood at 79, from its peak of more than 400 a day, with affected barangays remaining at 152 in 20 local government units of the province.
Hog deaths numbered to 17,216, or 9.51 percent of the 181,048 swine population in Negros Occidental, with losses placed at P194,695,750.
Stressing that they are still following the protocols of the Bureau of Animal Industry in addressing hog deaths, Lacson said they hope to maintain the double-digit figure, or even less, when it comes to swine mortalities.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is scheduled to release the P10 million cash aid to affected hog raisers, at P2,000 each.
The bulk of swine deaths was blamed on hog cholera, and other diseases, including the African swine fever (ASF), which have been detected in the cities of Bacolod, Victorias, Kabankalan, Silay, and San Carlos, and the towns of Hinigaran and Pulupandan.
The fourth district of Negros Occidental, composed of San Enrique, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, Bago, and La Carlota, has the most number of hog deaths at 10,472, the Capitol said./GB
