• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Hog industry losses in Negros Occidental have further increased to P178.2 million, after Cauayan reported 61 hog deaths, according to a report of the Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team, as of July 4.
The number of local government units hit with hog diseases have risen to 19, as the municipality of Cauayan joined the list.
No hog deaths were reported in the 1st district of Negros Occidental, composed of the cities of San Carlos and Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava and Don Salvador Benedicto.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that the provincial government continues to adhere the Bureau of Animal Industry protocols in addressing hog mortalities, noting that pig deaths greatly reduced from 400 a day to currently just more than 100.
We are hoping for the day that there are no more mortalities so that we can start cleaning up the areas. I think that’s for the next three months, Lacson said in a press briefing.
He however stressed that the provincial government cannot proceed with the repopulation of hogs yet, as they must first conduct test runs to determine if the new pigs will survive.
If there are still mortalities, we will stop. In the meantime, we will concentrate on other livestock, Lacson further said.
The provincial government has allocated P2,000 and free-range chickens to affected hog raisers that qualified for the cash aid, which is targeted for distribution within this month.*
