ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is hoping that Western Visayas will remain in the “green zone” category, or free from the African swine fever (ASF).
“We cannot compromise the P20-billion hog industry of the region,” said Regional Director Remelyn Recoter.
ASF is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs. It could result to serious hog production and economic losses.
Following an outbreak in Leyte, DA Region 6 is taking the lead against the spread of the ASF in Western Visayas.
“We have to heighten border restrictions, quarantine and disinfection measures in all ports of entry,” said Recoter.
ASF is a trans-boundary animal disease that can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild, and pork products.
Transmission can also occur via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment etc., due to the high environmental resistance of ASF virus.
Recoter is calling on the Bureau of Animal Industry and agriculturists from the local governments of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces and the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod to step up their respective measures against ASF contamination.
So far, only the provincial governments of Antique, Capiz and Negros Occidental have issued executive orders to restrict pork and pork-based products from Leyte.
Recoter is urging other local governments to make their own bans on pork and pork-based products.
Meanwhile, DA-6 is backing the construction of the slaughterhouse in Sibalom town, Antique province.
There is no approved vaccine against ASF.
Historically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.
More recently (since 2007) the disease has been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, in both domestic and wild pigs. (DA-6/PN)
