ASF hog testing to start in Batangas ‘ground zero’

MANILA, Philippines — Testing of hogs for the government’s African swine fever vaccination program will start in Lobo, Batangas, considered as the “ground zero“ of the ASF outbreak, according to the Department of Agriculture.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa yesterday said only hogs that test negative for the virus would be covered by the ASF vaccination program.

De Mesa said hog registration in Lobo would start tomorrow.

”Blood samples will be taken from the hogs to determine if the animals are not positive for ASF,” De Mesa said, noting the process would take some time.

“The blood samples will be examined. Everything needs to undergo the process. Within the week, we can start the vaccination for the fatteners and growers that have undergone testing,” he added.

The DA said the 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine purchased through emergency procurement were expected to arrive in the country yesterday.

“The 10,000 doses under the emergency procurement were part of the 600,000 doses. After Batangas, (hogs) in other areas will be also vaccinated,” De Mesa said.

Alfred Ng, vice chairman of the National Federation of Hog Raisers Inc., said he received information that only 20 doses of ASF vaccine would be allotted for each backyard farm in Batangas.

Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas said at least 10 areas – Calatagan, Balayan, Lobo, Lian, Lipa,  Malvar, Rosario, San Juan, Talisay and Tuy – logged ASF outbreaks.

Mandanas said a hog farmer from Lobo committed suicide after suffering losses due to ASF.

As this developed, livestock checkpoints have been set up in Angeles City in Pampanga as a precaution against ASF.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin ordered the city police to inspect all delivery trucks to prevent the entry of ASF-affected hogs from Batangas and Bulacan.

Downgraded to ‘pink zone’

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Animal Industry, an attached agency of the DA, has downgraded from “red to pink zone” the ASF status of 44 local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas.

As of Aug. 14, Hinigaran, Kabankalan, La Castellana, Pulupandan, San Carlos, Silay and Victorias in Negros as well as Ajuy, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Concepcion, Dingle, Dumangas, Iloilo City, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leganes, Mina, New Lucena, Oton, San Enrique, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and Zaraga in Iloilo have been downgraded from red or infected zone, to pink or buffer zone.

A similar improvement was noted in Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras; Cuartero, Dao, Dumarao, Maayon and Mambusao in Capiz; San Jose and Sibalom in Antique, and Balete, Banga, Batan, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, Numancia and New Washington in Aklan.

Despite the improved ASF status, the provincial government of Negros Occidental still bans the entry of hogs and pork products from the neighboring provinces of Cebu, Guimaras, Negros Oriental and Panay as well as the islands of Luzon and Mindanao.