ASF infects pigs in another Negros Occidental city

The Negros Occidental government has doubled its efforts to monitor pig farms in the province as farmers’ losses from hog diseases continue to mount. File Photo

BACOLOD CITY — The highly contagious African swine fever (ASF) has hit pigs in another locality in Negros Occidental.

Mayor Joedith Gallego of Silay City announced on Monday, June 12, the presence of ASF in barangays Guinhalaran and Patag.

Gallego said the two barangays were locked down after the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas confirmed that hogs in Silay tested positive for ASF.

“No pigs and pork products are allowed to leave or enter the two barangays to prevent the spread of the disease,” the mayor said.

Silay is the fourth locality in Negros Occidental with ASF positive cases. The three others were the cities of Bacolod and Victorias, and Pulupandan town.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, however, stressed that the province has not been declared an ASF “red zone” since only a few areas have positive cases of the deadly disease.

The number of local governments in Negros Occidental with pig deaths from various diseases rose to 17 on Monday, said the Provincial Veterinary Office.

At least 12,355 hogs owned by 2,342 hog raisers died with losses reaching P139,041,525 on Monday.

Hog cholera remains to be the cause of pig deaths in Negros Occidental, according to Lacson.

The province’s commercial hog raisers, he said, were still shipping pigs out of the province.

In the meantime, Lacson said hog raisers were encouraged to sell early while their animals are still healthy and should not wait for the desired weight.

“They should also not increase their hog population so the spread of the diseases can be placed under control,” the governor said.

Lacson expressed hope that the pig deaths do not reach the level where a state of calamity would be declared so they could use the calamity funds.

“It’s only June and every year we get hit by typhoons. It is not prudent to immediately tap the province’s calamity funds (at this point),” he said.

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