Bacolod: Some local government units in Negros Occidental have strengthened preventive biosecurity measures amid reports of swine deaths in the southern part of the province. Initial findings of the Provincial Veterinary Office attributed animal mortalities to weather conditions while massive surveillance is underway to determine the cause of deaths.
According to Philippines News Agency, La Castellana Mayor A±ejo Nicor ordered the temporary prohibition on the entry of live pigs, swine semen, fresh, chilled, frozen, processed or cooked pork, and pork-derived and processed products in the central Negros town. Mayor Nicor stated, "This temporary prohibition is adopted solely as a precautionary biosecurity measure to protect local hog raisers, preserve the local swine population, and prevent possible risks associated with the movement of swine and pork products from outside the municipality." He emphasized that this should not be misconstrued as a declaration of any particular animal disease within the municipality.
In San Enrique, where about 500 hog deaths have been reported, Mayor Jilson Tubillara said they are still awaiting the results of blood sample tests from the affected hogs. He plans to issue an executive order to enforce precautionary measures to prevent further swine deaths.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Yulo issued an order prohibiting the illegal and unauthorized selling of imported meat and meat products without the necessary permits and clearances within the municipality. She noted that as a pink zone, Moises Padilla actively enforces preventive measures to protect the local hog and livestock industries from the harmful effects of animal diseases. Pink zones are areas near infected or African swine fever (ASF)-free zones within infected provinces.
In Bacolod, City Administrator Mark Mayo stated that the City Veterinary Office (CVO) is preparing preventive measures, although there are no reported swine deaths in the city. Measures being considered include border control, clearance requirements for hogs passing through Bacolod, and inspection of hog raising operations. Mayo added that the CVO is encouraging backyard raisers to immediately report any swine deaths.
Negros Occidental, with a PHP6 billion swine industry and recognized as one of the top backyard hog-producing provinces in the country, recorded nearly 18,000 hog mortalities in about 20 local government units in 2023, mainly due to ASF and hog cholera.
