ASF, hog cholera in Negros Occidental now ‘under control’

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines —  Cases of hog cholera and African swine fever (ASF) in Negros Occidental are now under control, the provincial veterinary office declared yesterday.

Provincial veterinarian Placeda Lemana said no swine mortality has been recorded since September.

However, Lemana said a ban on hogs and pork products from ASF-affected areas remains in place.

She said Negros Occidental could not ship hogs to other provinces yet as the Department of Agriculture has not issued a certificate to prove that the province is ASF-free.

Negros Occidental is the second largest swine producer in the country.

Hog industry losses due to swine diseases in the province reached P199.5 million last year.

The provincial government has distributed financial assistance to affected hog raisers since December.

Lemana said a sentinel program would be implemented in the first quarter of 2024 to detect the presence of swine diseases in the province.

She said hog repopulation in the province would start in the second quarter.

Pork ban in Southern Leyte town

Meanwhile, a pork ban is in effect in Silago, Southern Leyte after ASF was detected in 11 of its 15 barangays.

The affected barangays are Katipunan, Imelda, Hingatungan, Salvacion, Laguma, Tuba-on, Tubod, Poblacion District 1, Poblacion District 2, Puntana and Sudmon.

An executive order issued by Mayor Lemuel Honor prohibited the slaughter of hogs as well as sale of hogs and pork products in ASF-hit barangays.

Checkpoints have been set up to prevent the entry and exit of hogs from affected areas.

Honor said the lifting of the pork ban would depend on the recommendation of the municipal agriculture office.