EDITORIAL — Relentless ASF spread

Depopulation continues in hog farms across the country as African swine fever spreads relentlessly. The culling is devastating the local swine industry and pork-related enterprises including producers of lechon or roast pig. While the country awaits the production of reliable vaccines against ASF, local agriculture organizations have been pushing for a measure that can minimize the risks of the further spread of the virus, which is not harmful to humans but swiftly kills infected hogs.

The organizations want the government to set up first-border inspection facilities where imported pork can be tested for ASF at the point of entry. Without such facilities, regular biosecurity testing for the virus is left to hog raisers. Combined with the lack of government indemnification for culled hogs, there is no incentive for swine raisers to report ASF infection in their farms, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura. SINAG explained that due to the lack of indemnification for infected pigs, swine raisers prefer to sell their diseased hogs without reporting ASF outbreaks in their farms.

SINAG has pointed out that the Philippines is the only country without first-border inspection facilities for agricultural imports. Funds for the construction of such facilities were earmarked way back in 2019, but SINAG noted “resistance” from the Department of Agriculture in pushing through with the project.

To contain the spread of ASF, Rodrigo Duterte, during his presidency, had approved the establishment of cold examination facilities in several major ports notably in Manila, Batangas, Subic, Cebu and Davao, but these did not materialize.

“It will not matter if you impose movement protocols and biosecurity measures on farms and the transport of live hogs if we continue to have unlimited entry of untested imported pork at the port of first entry,” SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet lamented last week.

Over the weekend, an official of the Department of Agriculture said the government would fast-track the establishment of inspection facilities in Batangas, Subic, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu.

To stabilize supply and prices of commodities, the country resorts to imports. But the government must also support the growth of domestic industries, to generate livelihoods, promote food security and save foreign currency. Agricultural importation has also been rocked by too many corruption scandals. Local hog raisers have warned that ASF and the government’s responses are killing the industry. It’s a warning that the government cannot afford to ignore.