By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An additional 1,800 hog raisers in Negros Occidental affected by African swine fever (ASF) and hog cholera last year will receive financial assistance from the provincial government.

Chiqui Gonzales, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head, said they allocated a budget of P10 million in assistance for 5,000 affected hog raisers.

More than 3,000 hog raisers each received P2,000 cash aid from the provincial government last year.

Meanwhile, Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) head Dr. Placeda Lemana said her office is continuing their surveillance against ASF, especially in eight local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental that were severely hit by hog diseases.

The PVO aims to downgrade the LGUs’ “red” category to the “pink” status, to allow local raisers to ship their hogs outside Negros Occidental.

The province, which has a P6 billion swine industry, recorded almost 18,000 hog deaths during the ASF and hog cholera outbreaks last year, with losses estimated at around P200 million./DGB, WDJ