BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The hog population in the municipality of San Enrique, Negros Occidental has been virtually wiped out by hog cholera and other swine diseases, according to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
Of the 2,692 hogs in the town, only 21 remain, PVO data showed.
A total of 508 raisers were affected by hog mortalities.
For the whole Negros Occidental, the PVO said 12,139 hogs have died or roughly 9.26 percent of the province’s total hog population.
Losses due to hog mortalities have ballooned to P136,311,800.
Most of the hog mortalities were due to hog cholera while others were due to the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Meanwhile, Silay City’s Mayor Joedith Gallego confirmed yesterday that two pigs from the city’s barangays Patag and Guinhalaran tested positive for ASF.
Gallego said the City Veterinary Office and Silay City police immediately locked down the two villages, prohibiting them from moving live hogs in and out.
The city mayor admitted they still do not have any concrete plans with regards to the financial assistance to affected hog raisers, although he is studying a proposal to hand over piglets to raisers next year.
Aside from Silay City, other areas with confirmed ASF cases are the town of Pulupandan, Victorias City and Bacolod City./PN
