By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday said that the hog industry’s losses due to various swine diseases have already totaled P145.6 million.
Lacson told reporters that swine mortalities further increased to 12,934, which represents nine percent of the total hog population.
Pig mortalities were reported in 135 barangays of 17 local government units in Negros Occidental, affecting 2,497 hog raisers.
Aside from the detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) cases in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Victorias, and Pulupandan that led to the culling of hogs within the 500-meter radius of ground zero, hog cholera was also blamed for the death of swine.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is extending P10 million in financial aid to the affected hog farmers who are now in the process of being identified.
“Earlier I mentioned P4 million but it has been increased to P10 million,” Lacson said.
The governor pointed out that those who are improperly disposing of dead pigs will not be included.
“Those who improperly disposed their dead hogs into the rivers and other waterways will not receive any assistance,” he said.
Lacson lamented that the throwing of hog carcasses into the waterways has further aggravated the situation.
The incidents were reported in San Enrique, Bago City, and highly urbanized Bacolod City.
Lacson also said that the fund assistance for the affected hog raisers is from the provincial government and will be coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis program.
The governor added that the assistance of P2,000 per household will be given directly to the beneficiaries.
This is amid speculation that the assistance will be exploited for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election in October 2023.
