Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, May 29, that Negros Occidental still has no Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed African swine fever (ASF) cases despite the continued pigs deaths in the province from various ailments.
Negros Occidental pig deaths on Monday increased to 7,202 in 118 barangays in 14 local government units, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported.
The pig deaths have caused P88,265,750 in losses to Negros Occidental’s hog industry, the PVO said.
They also represent 6.64 percent of the province’s 108, 528 hog population, and 1,498 raisers are affected, it added
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the two pigs in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod, that tested positive for ASF on Friday, May 26, reportedly came from Bago City .
Bago City Veterinarian, Dr. Martin Samuel Torres, said they have no record that the pigs were purchased from a Bago farm that in fact remains ASF-free.
Lacson said he agrees with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer that only the BAI can declare that the ASF hit pigs in Bacolod are from Bago.
“There has been no declaration as far as the province is concerned that we are ASF infected. I think we have been very consistent from the beginning that until such time that the BAI will proclaim us ASF infected, the province will not declare such”, Lacson said.
Lacson said a DA-BAI zoning map has classified Bacolod as a red or infected zone, but no LGU in Negros Occidental has been included in that category.
But he assured that Negros Occidental’s biosecurity protocols are geared to addressing whatever virus is present.
Meanwhile, Lacson said pigs, especially from private farms in Negros Occidental, continue to be sold outside of Negros Occidental.
Lacson said they are still talking to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to expand its coverage of more pig raisers in Negros Occidental.
The following is the list of LGUs with hog deaths in Negros Occidental as of Monday, May 29:
