BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental continues to export healthy pigs to other provinces.
Hog shipments have now reached over 10,000, the latest data from the provincial government showed.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also said despite the hog mortalities, the province has yet to experience shortages of pork and pork products.
Hog deaths already reached 16,361 with losses pegged at P186 million, data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed.
Lacson admitted the province’s hog population took a hit, although he pointed out that the spread of hog diseases, particularly hog cholera and African Swine Fever (ASF), was contained for now.
The governor added they still do not have the date as to when they could release the financial aid for the affected hog raisers. They are also preparing a separate financial assistance for farmers affected by the recent high temperatures brought by the early effects of the El Niño.
A total of 4,000 hog raisers are set to receive P2,000 each from the provincial government.
The total budget allocated for the financial aid is P10 million. (Watchmen Daily Journal)
