• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Despite recording single digit hog mortalities in Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday called on hog raisers not to be complacent, noting that the threat of swine diseases is still present.
Lacson attributed the reduction of hog mortalities from three digits to single digit deaths per day to the following of protocols prescribed by the Bureau of Animal Industry.
“It just tells us that the protocol we followed is working, but I’m not saying it’s over,” he stressed.
Lacson pointed out that Negros Occidental is not yet on the recovery phase from the onslaught of swine diseases.
“We will still release piglets as samples in certain areas to find out if it’s already clean,” he added.
The Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team on August 1 recorded only four hog deaths, all from Cauayan.
Ten of 31 towns and component cities of Negros Occidental, composed of Don Salvador Benedicto, Calatrava, Toboso, Escalante City, Sagay City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Sipalay City, Candoni and Hinobaan, have remained free from African Swine Fever as of this time.*
