Rotting pig carcasses dumped by river causes panic among hog raisers in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan

Several rotting carcasses of several pigs dumped by a river in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan has caused alarm to the town’s hog raisers who slaughtered and sold their animals at a loss.

In the report of Jasmine Gabriel Galban of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon on Wednesday, the dead pigs and rotting meat were found in Barangay Malasin on Sunday morning.

tDr. Ronald Tadina, a municipal veterinarian of Pozorrubio, said it has been three to four days since the swine died.

“Doon na rin inano…hinukay tapos nag-spray kami ng mga disinfectant,” he said.

(It was there they died… we dug a hole and sprayed the area with disinfectant.)

An investigation by the local government found the carcasses were not from the town.

Tadina said they have identified the person behind the dumping of the animal remains and complaints are being prepared to be filed against the culprit.

“Kailangan managot po ang nagtambak kasi malaking epekto po sa atin ‘yon. Lalo na yung parang economic sabotage. Kawawa naman ang mga backyard [hog] raiser natin. Nagpapanic na sila, binebenta na yung mga baboy nila sa pinakamurang halaga,” he added.

(The person who did this must be held accountable. Especially for what seems to be economic sabotage. I feel sorry for our hog raisers. They are panicking, selling their pics at low prices.)

Starting on Monday, many hog raisers have supposedly slaughtered and sold their hogs out of fear these might be infected with disease.

Due to this development, the price of live weight fee in the town has dropped despite announcements the pigs in Pozorrubio are not sick.

One seller said despite the low price of pork they are selling, business is slow.

The municipal government has issued an Executive Order prohibiting the entry of pigs from other areas. The move is meant to protect the town’s estimated 3,000 hog raisers. —RF, GMA News