MANILA, Philippines — African swine fever (ASF) has continued to spread in the country with 173 new outbreaks and an additional 84,064 hogs culled.
In its 13th follow-up report to the World Organization for Animal Health, the Philippines said it has a total of 7,845 ASF cases.
Government records show that more than 500,000 hogs have been culled, but stakeholders place losses at more than four million.
Of the new outbreaks, the highest number of culled hogs is in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur with 5,352.
Cauayan and Cabatuan in Isabela recorded culled hogs at 4,379 and 3,925, respectively.
Isabela recorded the most number of towns with new cases. These are Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, Echague, Quirino, Luna, Aurora, Alicia, Ramon, Mercedes, San Manuel, San Mateo, Angadanan, Cordon, San Isidro, Cabagan, Delfin Albano, San Guillermo, Naguilian, San Agustin, Gamu, Tumauini, Jones, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Burgos and Ilagan City.
Pangasinan reported new cases in Alaminos City, Bolinao, Bani, Natividad, Infanta, Dasol, Mangaldan, Lingayen, Anda, Agoo, San Carlos, Mapandan, Sual, Laoac, Burgos, Tayug, Mabini, Pozorrubio, Umingan and Agno.
New outbreaks were also recorded in Rizal and Bataan.
Cavite reported new hog deaths in seven towns while the number of ASF cases increased in 12 towns in Nueva Vizcaya.
New cases were also reported in Laguna, La Union, Quezon, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Cagayan, Quirino, Bataan and Sorsogon.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) office in Northern Mindanao said dozens of hogs recently died in Manticao and Initao in Misamis Oriental.
Carlota Madriaga, regional technical director for operations, said samples from affected farms were taken to determine if the pigs died of ASF.
The DA has allotted P600 million for the repopulation of backyard raisers, including breeders and multiplier farms.
The agency said it would help big commercial farms by providing loans with low interest rates.
Hog ban
In Eastern Visayas, the Inter-Agency Task Force on ASF recommended a ban on the entry of hogs for three months to stop the spread of ASF.
The task force said it is up to the local government units (LGUs) to decide whether the ban would be selective or total.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that 70 to 80 percent of hog supply in the region comes from Mindanao.
The PSA regional office said the local pork supply would suffice in case LGUs impose a hog ban. – Miriam Desacada, Gerry Lee Gorit