Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the province was not tagged as an African swine fever (ASF) red zone despite thousands of pigs in the province has been killed.
Silay is the fourth local government unit in Negros Occidental with ASF positive cases.
Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego said on June 12 that the 2 barangays were locked down after cases were detected.
ASF positive pigs had also been detected in Bacolod and Victorias cities and Pulupandan town earlier.
The governor said he hopes that the situation will not worsen to the point where a state of calamity will have to be declared in the province, which would probably happen if 50 percent of the province’s hog population is affected by ASF.
He said that the provincial government is working to identify the hog raisers who are eligible for assistance, which will be given per family and not per pig.
