ILOILO – The provincial government is facing difficulties in sourcing sentinel pigs for its African Swine Fever (ASF) recovery program, delaying procurement efforts in several municipalities.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed the issue, noting that some municipalities identified as recipients of the program have been struggling to procure the required piglets for backyard hog raisers.
“They cannot buy piglets. There’s a sourcing problem,” Defensor said, adding that even non-recipients of the program are finding it difficult to acquire piglets.
Sentinel Pig Distribution Progress
Data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed that as of March 6, three municipalities have already begun distributing sentinel pigs — Santa Barbara (72 piglets), Barotac Viejo (54 piglets), and San Miguel (50 piglets).
A new batch of sentinel pigs was also distributed in Oton in February while other municipalities are still undergoing the procurement process.
A total of 13 municipalities have been designated as recipients of the sentineling program, with financial assistance from the provincial government allocated as follows:
* Barotac Viejo – P324,000
* New Lucena – P528,000
* Dingle – P432,000
* Banate – P2,268,000
* Santa Barbara – P432,000
* San Miguel – P300,000
* Concepcion – P240,000
* Lambunao – P600,000
* Zarraga – P360,000
* Janiuay – P1,200,000
* Batad – P960,000
* Oton – P1,896,000
* Mina – P60,000
The funds will be used by municipalities to procure sentinel pigs, with each qualified hog raiser set to receive two piglets.
Upgraded ASF Classification
The 13 recipient municipalities have been reclassified from red zone (infected area) to pink zone (buffer zone), as designated by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). The pink zone includes areas where ASF has not been detected but are adjacent to infected areas.
To address the supply shortage, PVO head Dr. Darel Tabuada said they are now sourcing sentinel pigs from Negros Occidental. He also noted that the current decline in market prices for pigs may help increase supply availability.
“Some of our sentinel pigs come from Negros, but supply remains limited. However, with prices dropping, we expect to secure more piglets,” Tabuada said.
Hog raisers must meet specific requirements to qualify for the program, including an upgraded ASF classification from red to pink zone and compliance with PVO’s biosecurity measures.
Swine Inventory Showing Signs of Recovery
Despite the challenges, the province’s swine inventory is steadily recovering. Defensor reported an 11.42% increase in inventory, rising from 72,320 heads in January 2024 to 80,576 heads as of March 6, 2025, an addition of 8,256 heads.
The current price of live pigs in the province is at P251 per kilogram, while pork prices are at P392 per kilogram.
“We have added 8,000 heads compared to last year. While that is still low due to ongoing purchases from outside the province, our backyard hog raisers are returning to pig farming, especially in low-risk ASF areas,” Defensor explained.
Aside from local production, the province continues to receive live pig shipments from Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Palawan to supplement supply.
“Our backyard raisers are coming back, particularly in areas with lower ASF risks. Some mountainous barangays that remained unaffected have continued operations, helping support the province’s pork supply,” Defensor added.
ASF Zone Reclassifications
Of the 28 municipalities previously classified as red zones, 17 have been upgraded to pink zones: Santa Barbara, Batad, San Miguel, Oton, New Lucena, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Dingle, Mina, Concepcion, Janiuay, Leganes, Lambunao, Zarraga, Dumangas, Ajuy, and San Enrique.
Meanwhile, 11 municipalities remain in the red zone, meaning ASF infections are still present: San Joaquin, Alimodian, Maasin, Dueñas, Badiangan, Pototan, Barotac Nuevo, San Dionisio, Carles, Balasan, and Estancia./PN
