• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
With zero hog mortalities over the past several days, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that he will discuss with the Provincial Veterinarian Office the start of the sentineling program, if there are no more African Swine Fever cases in Negros Occidental.
The sentineling program is only for areas that have confirmed ASF cases, according to the Department of Agriculture.
ASF cases were confirmed by the Bureau of Animal Industry in Bacolod, Silay, and Victorias cities, along with Pulupandan and Hinigaran, in Negros Occidental.
Engr. Albert Barogo, officer in charge regional executive director of DA for Western Visayas, earlier said that an area is qualified for the sentineling program if it has not recorded an ASF case in 45 days.
Under the DA recovery program, sentinel piglets will be placed in ASF affected areas, for observation over 45 days. If they test negative for ASF, the area will be declared as ASF free, which will signal the start of hog repopulation.
Lacson described the zero hog mortality as a welcome development.
If there is a go signal to start the sentineling program, we will do it, he added.*
