The provincial government distributed P724,000 worth of farm animals to help farmers recover from the disaster that African swine fever (ASF) brought to Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
“We are also monitoring closely the ASF vaccine” being administered in Batangas, he said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Aug. 30 kicked off the controlled trial of a Vietnam-developed ASF live vaccine in Lobo, Batangas – a municipality with one of the highest cases of ASF.
“I understand that they will focus first in Batangas, we are hoping that if these vaccines are available in Region 6 that we in Negros Occidental will be able to receive some,” Lacson said.
He said the provincial government will first seek free supply from the DA. “If we see that it is effective we may consider buying also,” Lacson said.
Lacson distributed poultry and livestock worth P724,000 to farmers’ associations, local government units, and cooperatives who are recipients of the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement and Livelihood Program, at the Capitol grounds in Bacolod City on Tuesday morning.
These included boars and gills, cattle, free-range chicks, ducks and sheep.
The distribution of farm animals to different groups will be held on a monthly basis, Lacson said.
The animals being distributed come from two farms of the provincial government, he said.
“We have become self-sufficient…we are now producing our own animals,” Lacson said, so they no longer have to buy the animals they are distributing.
He congratulated the Provincial Veterinary Office on its success.*