NEGROS HOGS. At least 15,726 hogs in Negros Occidental have died due to hog cholera and other diseases as of July 4, 2023. On Wednesday (July 5), Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said swine deaths have gone down among the affected areas in the past several days. (File photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – Swine deaths caused by hog cholera and other diseases have slowed down in the past several days in Negros Occidental even after cases have already been reported in 19 out of 31 local government units of the province.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday the provincial government is adhering to the protocols set by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) in addressing the hog mortalities.
“We’re just happy that the mortality has greatly reduced from the initial 400 plus (daily), it’s now less than 150. All we did was just follow the protocols implemented by the BAI. We were not remiss in that. We’re hoping for the day that there are no more mortalities and we can start cleaning up the areas. I think that’s for the next three months,” Lacson told reporters.
However, Lacson said the province will not immediately proceed with repopulation, but will 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,” he added.
As of July 4, at least 15,726 hogs in Negros Occidental died due to hog cholera and other diseases, bringing more than PHP178 million in losses to the province’s swine industry, data from the Provincial Animal Biosecurity Incident Management Team showed.
This month, the provincial government is expected to release financial assistance to more than 4,000 families with reported swine deaths.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II had earlier said that each family will receive PHP2,000 cash aid to be released either in the first or second week of July. (PNA)
