ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., together with the Provincial Price Control Council, is monitoring the supply of live hogs and pork products in the province.
Many hog raisers still cannot repopulate since October 2022 when the first African Swine Fever (ASF) infection was detected in Oton town, the governor said.
“Waay na sia naga-replenish dayon because indi pa man puede especially kon red zone ka and our farmers are hesitant magbakal sang idik kay ti may risgu pa,” explained Defensor.
If repopulation doesn’t happen in three months, the province could experience a significant decline in pork supply, he said.
With this, Defensor considered sourcing from nearby provinces in Region 6 under the “green zone” like Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Negros Occidental.
“We are preparing the markets, diin kita mabakal. But that’s not a problem, kay ang palibot naton is a green zone,” he said.
The governor also said there must be a supporting study and sufficient data first, which would remove the hesitation among hog raisers to repopulate their livestock.
As of Jan. 25, a total of 1,628 hogs from 18 ASF-affected towns had been depopulated.
These 18 towns are Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, New Lucena, Mina, Badiangan, Santa Barbara, Janiuay, Dueñas, San Dionisio, Batad, Dingle, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Zarraga, Banate, and Barotac Viejo.
The provincial government also recorded 3,155 natural hog deaths from the towns of Janiuay, Barotac Viejo, Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Mina, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, and Banate./PN
