Dar: Philippine ASF cases declining but hog virus to linger like COVID-19

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said on Friday that African swine fever (ASF) cases in the country were in decline, but the hog virus would linger like the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a Senate budget hearing, Dar told the senators that ASF was present in only three regions, compared to the 12 regions affected during the height of the outbreak in 2020.

“In terms of provinces, 50 dati, ngayon, five provinces na lang. Dati dati, nasa 624 cities, municipalities. As of this day, 20 municipalities or cities. In terms of barangay, dati nasa 3,283 barangays. Ngayon nasa 83 barangays na lang,” he said.

(In terms of provinces, we had 50 before but now, we only have five. We previously had 624 cities and municipalities affected. As of this day, we only have 20 municipalities or cities. In terms of barangays, we had 3,283 affected barangays but now, we only have 83.)

“So nakikita natin ang pagbaba at sana maki-cooperate ang mga traders at ang karamihan, ang mga hog raisers na backyard, ngayon na nataas na ang indemnification. May kusang loob na ire-report na nila pero meron pa ring mga hindi nagre-report,” Dar said.

(So we see a decline and we hope that traders, as well as the backyard hog raisers, will report the cases voluntarily, especially now that we have higher indemnification. There are some who report to us but there are still farmers who do not report their cases.)

Despite the decline, Dar said the ASF problem was expected to linger in the near future just like COVID-19.

“Mayron pa po [na kaso] kasi halos lingering ‘yan kagaya ng COVID. Nand’yan kung hindi natin i-observe ang health and quarantine protocol against ASF nandyan pa palagi,” he said.

(There are still cases because that are lingering like COVID-19. It will stay if we won't observe health and quarantine protocols against ASF.)

Hesitant to repopulate

At the latter part of the hearing, Senator Imee Marcos questioned the high meat prices despite the DA’s claim that the decline in ASF cases.

“Kung talagang bumagsak na ang ASF bakit ganon pa rin ang mga presyo ng baboy na talgang inflationary?” Marcos asked.

(If the ASF cases have declined, why are pork meat prices still inflationary?)

In response, Dar explained that there are cities, municipalities, and provinces that are still hesitant to repopulate due to the lingering presence of the ASF.

“Ang mga gray areas ay still hesitant to do repopulation to their affected farms earlier…So hindi pa todo-todo yung movement para mag-repopulate para mas mataas sana ang hog inventory natin sa bansa. ‘Yung hog inventory mas kulang pa rin,” the Agriculture chief said.

(There are gray areas that are still hesitant to repopulate their affected farms. So the repopulation efforts are still sporadic. The hog inventory in the country is still inadequate.)

For 2022, Dar said they allocated over P4 billion for the DA’s ASF response.

Most of the funds would go to the repopulation of hogs, while part of it would go to Bantay ASF.

Under the 2022 National Expenditures Program, the DA was allocated with P91 billion. — DVM, GMA News