African Swine Fever affecting 25 provinces, 280,000 pigs culled —DA

The problem on the African swine fever (ASF), a disease affecting livestock hogs, has yet to be contained in the Philippines —almost a year since the first outbreak was recorded in August 2019, with outbreaks happening in 25 provinces nationwide.

“As of April 27, 2020, ang apektado po [ng ASF] ay eight regions, 25 na probinsya, 210 cities, at 876 barangays,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said during a virtual press conference on Thursday.

Reyes said that a total of 282,436 pigs have been culled to contain the spread of the disease since the start of the outbreak in August 2019.

“‘Yan po ay napakaliit na pursyento ng kabuuang population ng baboy sa buong bansa na umaabot sa 12 million,” he said.

The provinces which have ASF outbreaks are Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Bataan, Bulacaan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Auraora, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental.

Due to the ASF problem, the Department of Agriculture is expecting a 31-day shortage of pork supply after the end of 2020. 

“Magkakaroon tayo ng demand na 1.2 million metric tons (MT) sa katapusan ng taon pero ang supply po ay 1.1 million so Magkakaroon tayo ng deficit na 31 days,” Reyes said.

To address a projected supply shortage, the Agriculture department will also intensify hog-raising in ASF-free areas.

“Ine-encourage po rin natin ang mga consumers mag-shift sa ibang protein sources...like poultry,” Reyes said.

To contain the ASF spread, the government has implemented strict movement protocols of pork products and live swines as well as impose surveillance, containment, quarantine, and culling in areas monitored with the disease. -MDM, GMA News