Quezon regains ASF-free status ahead of Christmas
LUCENA CITY—”Lechon” (roasted pig) lovers in Quezon province can safely enjoy their favorite crispy delicacy this Christmas season, as local authorities announced on Wednesday that the province has regained its African swine fever (ASF)-free status.
Gov. Angelina Tan said in a Facebook post that Quezon has once again been classified as an ASF-free zone after enforcing strict protocols and biosecurity measures to curb the spread of the hog virus.
“Through the continuous monitoring by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), the province has successfully prevented the disease from spreading among livestock,” Tan said.
The PVO acknowledged that the fight against ASF was neither easy nor short, noting that provincial veterinarians and their counterparts in all municipalities worked tirelessly to contain the spread of the animal disease that struck the province’s hog industry last year.
Assessments
Personnel from the PVO and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have been conducting regular assessments of backyard hog raisers in areas affected by ASF in recent years.
These validations aim to facilitate the recovery of the local hog industry and ensure continued compliance with biosecurity protocols.
On Nov. 28, all cities and towns previously affected by ASF were officially declared free of the virus, the PVO reported.
The World Organisation for Animal Health describes ASF as “a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs” and warns that meat from infected animals is unsafe for consumption.
The DA has implemented several measures to stop the spread of animal diseases, including government-controlled vaccinations, strict border inspections and updated policies to strengthen disease prevention and response.
