By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The number of swine mortalities continues to go down in Negros Occidental, latest data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed.

As of Monday, July 31, the PVO recorded only 11 hog deaths in the province, with damage reaching P198,879,325.

Total hog deaths were at 17,755, or 9.81 percent of Negros Occidental’s total hog population.

San Enrique town was still the hardest hit by pig mortalities, as its entire hog population was wiped out.

The town recorded a total of 2,671 hog deaths, with damages pegged at P30,039,825.

Around 20 local government units have been affected by hog deaths caused by hog cholera and African swine fever.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has previously attributed the drop in hog mortalities due to stricter biosecurity protocols.

Last month’s PVO data showed Negros Occidental was able to ship more than 10,000 healthy pigs to other provinces, and has not experienced shortages of pork and pork products amid hog deaths.

Meanwhile, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head, Chiqui Gonzales said yesterday that financial assistance for 2,250 affected hog raisers will be released next week.

Gonzales said they have already received the list of affected hog farmers.

Around P4.5 million in aid has been allocated.

Each raiser will receive P2,000 in cash assistance.

Gonzales said this is just the first tranche of the aid distribution, as the payout depends on the available funds.

San Enrique town will be the first to receive the financial aid with an allocation of P304,000./DGB, WDJ