• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Loses to the swine industry in Negros Occidental due to hog cholera and other diseases have reached P150 million as of June 18, according to Provincial Veterinary Office reports.
The PVO report further showed that 13,418 pigs have already died, with 2,614 hog raisers having been affected.
On the other hand, no additional barangay reported hog mortalities. The number of affected barangays remains at 138, according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Only the 1st district of the province has remained free from hog deaths.
Mayor Benjie Miranda yesterday said they have cordoned barangays of Binicuil, Daan Banwa and Hilamonan, all in Kabankalan City, due to the deaths of 2,000 hogs, but only 340 as reported by PVO.
Miranda said they are still awaiting the results of blood tests they sent to the Department of Agriculture Region 6 so they will know what action the city government will take.
He added that they have no plans yet, as of this time, to extend financial assistance to the affected hog raisers, as there is no basis for the declaration of a state of calamity.
Miranda also thanked hog raisers in Kabankalan City, for their cooperation, by informing authorities if they notice that their swine experience symptoms of hog cholera.*
