By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental’s hog shipments have now reached more than 10,000, data from the provincial government showed.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province continues to export healthy pigs to other neighboring provinces despite the hog mortalities recorded in the last two months. 

The province has yet to experience shortages in pork and pork products.

Based on data from the Provincial Veterinary Office, hog deaths had already reached 16,361, with damages pegged at P186 million.

Lacson admitted that while the hog population was greatly affected, the spread of hog diseases, particularly hog cholera and African swine fever, has been controlled.

He said the provincial government still does not have a target date for the release of the financial aid for the affected local hog raisers.

However, separate financial assistance is being prepared for farmers affected by the recent high temperatures brought by the El Niño phenomenon.

Around 4,000 hog raisers will receive P2,000 each, from the P10 million financial assistance allocated by the provincial government./DGB, WDJ