By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government will begin distributing hog cholera vaccines for affected local hog raisers today.

Dr. Placeda Lemana, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Veterinary Office, said hog farmers in the province’s 6th District will be the first to receive the vaccines, alongside the distribution of alternative livelihood opportunities and the handover of 800 free-range chickens.

The distribution will be carried out in Ilog town.

Currently, out of the 70,000 vaccine doses purchased by the local government, around 25,000 have arrived.

Lemana clarified that the farmers will administer the vaccine for their pigs to prevent the animals from contracting the disease.

Vaccine recipients will also undergo training to ensure effective administration and to avoid mishandling.

Unused vaccines will be stored by the local government unit./DGB, WDJ