THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed close to P1 million worth of food packs and other relief items to families affected by the hog cholera in Negros Occidental.
Data from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) as of 6 p.m. of July 1 showed that 3,077 families or 13,400 persons from 63 barangays in Negros Occidental affected, many from the cities of Kabankalan and Bago, and the towns of Ilog, San Enrique and Valiadolid.
The DSWD has been coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in the province and started providing the family food packs and relief items early this month following the confirmed swine deaths due to hog cholera.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is expected to start distributing cash aid of P2,000 per family this week.
Hog cholera or classical swine fever (CSF) is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild swine, which is transmitted through direct contact between healthy and infected hogs, and when pigs eat CSF-infected pork meat or products.
The CSF virus can survive in pork and processed pork products for months when meat is refrigerated and for years when it is frozen.
The province of Negros Occidental in April reported widespread swine death caused by hog cholera, African swine fever, and even bird flu in the province.
On May 31, the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in coordination with the City Veterinary Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office confirmed swine deaths mainly due to hog cholera. There were also confirmed swine deaths caused by hog cholera in San Enrique.
