Swine deaths dip but still a cause of concern, provincial vet says

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental provincial veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana said Thursday that swine mortality in the province due to various diseases is declining.

But Lemana admitted to Daily Guardian that the losses amounting to more than P150 million are a cause of concern.

“Declining na aton cases as of June 21, only 145 deaths kag wala new affected barangays or LGUs (local government units).”

Lemana said many farmers are affected because they lost their livelihoods.

The economic activity of affected LGUs also bears the brunt because of the domino effect on feed supplies and medicines.

Meat processors are also affected.

As of Thursday, Lemana said the accumulated losses amounted to P155.9 million although swine mortality accounted for only 10 percent of the province’s hog population.

To mitigate the situation, the provincial government is distributing alternative livelihood sources such as free-range chickens and ducks.

Earlier, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government’s financial assistance to affected hog raisers was increased to P10 million from P4 million.

Meanwhile, cases of the deadly African Swine Fever spread further to Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental, increasing to four the number of LGUs with ASF cases.

Mayor Nadie Arceo reported yesterday that two pigs tested positive for ASF in Brgy. Cambaog, Hinigaran.

The seven hogs that earlier tested positive for ASF at the slaughterhouse of Victorias Food Corporation in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, were discovered to have originated from Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran, as reported by Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez.

The Bureau of Animal Industry also reported the detection of a pig infected by ASF in Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran.

Brgys Cambaog and Anahaw, both in Hinigaran, are presently cordoned off to prevent the transport of hogs outside of the affected barangays.

Of the 541 dead hogs in Hinigaran, Arceo reported that 317 are from Brgy. Cambaog, Hinigaran.

Arceo also said that the Hinigaran municipal government will provide financial assistance of P500 for each dead piglet and P1,000 for adult pigs, noting that only 10 percent of affected hog raisers are covered by insurance.

ASF cases have also been detected in the cities of Bacolod, Silay and Victorias, as well as Pulupandan in Negros Occidental, as well as the towns of Dauin and Sibulan in Negros Oriental.

Arceo reported that 12 barangays in Hinigaran have been affected by swine diseases, and 541 hogs have already died.