• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Victorias City in Negros Occidental has logged nine confirmed African Swine Fever cases, with seven of the pigs testing ASF positive coming from Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and City Veterinarian Dr. Michael John Cabuguason disclosed yesterday.
The Bureau of Animal Industry under the Department of Agriculture had detected ASF cases previously in one barangay in the town of Pulupandan, and two barangays in highly urbanized Bacolod City.
Cabuguason, in a joint press briefing with Mayor Benitez, disclosed that there were two cases of local ASF infection in Brgy. 5, Victorias, while seven of the 15 pigs transported to the Victorias Food Corporation (VFC) slaughterhouse at Victorias Milling Company, that were being tested as part of animal disease surveillance, were discovered to have been ASF positive, which was validated by the DA Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Iloilo.
According to Cabuguason, the two affected areas were already contained, based on the guidelines set by the Bureau of Animal Industry.
Fortunately, there was no other piggery and existing backyard hog raisers within the 500-meter ground zero radius in Brgy. 5, Victorias City, while VFC was ordered to stop slaughtering while its slaughter and storage areas were immediately disinfected, he added.
Benitez said “this is not a public health concern, this is economic concerns,” apparently referring to detection of ASF cases in Victorias City, noting that the City has a hog population of 1,584, which is valued at about P16 million.
While 95 percent of hog population is covered by insurance, Benitez said they are exploring how to minimize the impact of ASF to livelihoods, especially those solely dependent on backyard hog raising.
As to the possible declaration of state of calamity, Benitez and Cabuguason said they have to consult with the City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council.
As of the June 5 report of the Provincial Health Office, hog deaths in Negros Occidental further increased to 10,369, which represents 9.17 percent of 113,107 hog population, and the damage to the swine industry is pegged at P118,149,325.
While the provincial government of Negros Occidental is extending P4 million in cash aid to selected hog raisers, the Bacolod City government is preparing P10 million cash indemnification to hog raisers affected by ASF.
It will be P3,000 for those raising zero to 3-month-old piglets, P5,000 to every 4 to 5 months old fattening pig, and P7,000 each for 6-months-old and older breeders, according to executive order number 022, series of 2023, issued by the Bacolod City government.
On the other hand, Ilog Municipal Agriculturist Rodante Perez also reported an increasing number of hog deaths in Brgy. Calubang, Ilog, staring from June 1. He confirmed that more than 100 pigs died within a period of five days.
Blood samples have been taken from dead hogs, which were immediately sent to the BAI for laboratory testing, as they further strengthened bio security measures, including the conduct of checkpoints, to contain the spread of animal diseases to other Ilog barangays, he added.*
