By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental is currently supplying at least 8,000 to 12,000 heads of hogs to other provinces in the country.

The province currently remains free of African swine fever (ASF).

Among the areas being supplied by Negros Occidental include the neighboring islands of Panay and Cebu, as well as Luzon.

Dr. Placeda Lemana, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said the province has a production surplus when it comes to hogs.

He pointed out being ASF-free means they can send out hogs everywhere.

Negrense hogs are also sought for their good quality, which Lemana attributed to the province’s genetic improvement program.

Negros Occidental is also currently the top backyard hog producer in the country and the local industry’s price tag was pegged at more than P6 billion.

Since 2019, Negros Occidental has prohibited the entry of live hogs and pork products coming from Luzon, Mindanao and Eastern Visayas after their respective provinces reported cases of ASF./DGB, WDJ