Personnel of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Central Luzon vaccinate a pig against African swine fever during the distribution of hogs to affected raisers in San Simon town, Pampanga province recently. (Photo courtesy of DA-Central Luzon)
BACOLOD CITY — The African swine fever (ASF) and hog cholera diseases that killed thousands of pigs in Negros Occidental last year are now under control.
“Negros Occidental is not ASF and hog cholera-free, but it is now under control with no new deaths from such diseases recorded,” said Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian.
Lemana said the hog sentinel program in Negros Occidental would start officially in the first quarter of this year to determine if an area is virus-free.
“The raiser will initiate the sentineling with the assessment of local government technicians to ensure that they follow the protocol. There should be a footbath and perimeter fence in their backyard farms. Then, by the second quarter, we will proceed with the restocking,” she said.
In the last quarter of 2023, some hog raisers began sentineling on their own, but they were being monitored by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) district offices, Lemana said.
“After they started raising pigs again in their own backyard, no mortalities have been reported so far. It means our pre-sentineling measures, such as disinfection and other related preventive activities, are effective,” she said.
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With the hog restocking, Lemana said pork prices could start going down in the third and fourth quarter of 2024 as production returns to normal.
Negros Occidental recorded almost 18,000 pig deaths from hog cholera and ASF last year.
The province was previously the top hog producer in the country and is now second to Batangas as shown by Philippine Statistics Authority data.
Lemana assured the public that the province has adequate pork and chicken supply.
Except for one commercial farm, Negros Occidental cannot ship hogs out of the province yet as it still needs a Recognition of Active Surveillance certificate.
Lemana said only one commercial farm has a certificate to ship out.
Pigs and pork products are also not allowed entry into Negros Occidental to ensure that the province regains its ASF-free status soon.
Lemana said the provincial government started distribution of financial assistance to affected Ilog hog raisers in December.
The distribution to affected farmers in other areas of the province will continue this year.