By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental’s Hinigaran town became the latest local government unit (LGU) in the province to have confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) after two hog blood samples from Barangay Cambaog tested positive.

Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo said the blood samples from Barangay Anahaw have tested negative.

It can be recalled that the seven pigs brought to Victorias Food Corporation, which tested positive for ASF in Victorias City, came from Anahaw.

According to Arceo, 541 pigs in 12 barangays in the town have already died, with 317 coming from Barangay Cambaog alone.

He also revealed that only 10 percent of the town raisers have insured their pigs against hog diseases.

At present, the LGU will provide financial assistance of P500 per piglet, and P1,000 per hog.

Earlier, Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the number of hog mortalities in the province is decreasing.

Based on data forwarded by the Provincial Veterinary Office, the province is recording only 140 to 150 swine mortalities over the past few days.

The numbers are far from the over 400 hog deaths recorded every day in previous weeks.

As of Monday, June 19, losses due to hog mortalities in Negros Occidental are now at P152,774,975, with 13,572 deaths or 9.48 percent of the hog population.

Several municipalities and cities in the province reported their hog population has already been depleted.

Some localities are confident they will be able to protect their livestock against diseases such as hog cholera and ASF.

Currently, capital Bacolod City and Negros Occidental cities of Silay and Victorias, and Pulupandan town have confirmed ASF cases.

The province aims to provide financial assistance of P2,000 for affected local hog raisers before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October./DGB, WDJ