Gov’t keeps tab as ASF afflicts hogs in Occidental Mindoro

The Philippines logged new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Occidental Mindoro, but the Department of Agriculture (DA) assured that the impact on local hog production would still be minimal.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed on Monday that the animal disease had been detected in three Occidental Mindoro towns that supply hogs to Metro Manila and parts of Western Visayas.

Despite this, the DA regional field office in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) said the latest incident would have a minimal impact on swine production.

DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said blood samples that had been sent earlier this month to BAI confirmed seven ASF cases in San Jose, five in Sta. Cruz and two cases in the municipality of Rizal as of Jan. 17.BAI confirmed the presence of ASF cases in the province on Jan. 12, a few days after certain barangays in Sta. Cruz and San Jose had reported unusual number of pig deaths.

The agency is now keeping Naujan town under tight monitoring, particularly the movement of hogs within town limits, after detecting a recurrence of a positive case in the area.

“Pig production in the Oriental Mindoro towns of Naujan and Calapan are now being strictly monitored due to previous ASF cases while the town of Baco is being monitored for the virus,” the DA said in a statement on Monday.ASF cases were first detected in Oriental Mindoro late last year.

BAI, along with the concerned local government units, is conducting thorough surveillance, immediately taking out infected hogs and implementing preventive culling around affected areas.

A town is placed under red zone even if only one barangay shows cases of ASF, restricting any hog movement within the area, based on the DA’s existing regulations.

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Tighter mobility restrictions are also in place if two or more barangays show positive cases.

The DA is now awaiting requests from local government units to activate additional surveillance groups. It is also preparing to assist affected farmers for the indemnification of slaughtered hogs.

The DA pays P5,000 for each culled hog due to ASF, capping the financial assistance at 20 heads of pigs. —Jordeene B. Lagare INQ