Strict animal quarantine checkpoints remain in place in Rosario to prevent further spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Batangas Provincial Veterinary Office and the Provincial Board have called on hog raisers to cooperate with the government by accurately reporting any ASF symptoms in their livestock.

The provincial government is also considering an ordinance to penalize those caught selling pork from animals slaughtered outside of authorized facilities without proper inspection.

"Makakaasa po ang ating hog raisers industry na kami ay nandito hindi lang para sumuporta sa kanilang industriya kundi protektahan kundi ang merkado at ating mamamayan sa epekto ng African Swine Fever," Vice Governor Mark Leviste said.

IMPACT ON WORKERS

On August 13, 2024, around 20 kilograms of pork remained unsold at a meat shop in Barangay D, Poblacion, Rosario, Batangas.

This is a stark contrast to the usual business operations of 54-year-old Imelda Cueto, the shop owner, who used to sell out her daily stock by mid-morning.

"Napakalaking epekto sa amin... napupuno na nga ang aming freezer. Ifini-freezer na lang ang tira gawa [na] hindi ma[benta] — niluluto na lang namin ang tira," Cueto said.

Winston Rago, a butcher working at the same meat shop, also shared how the ASF has reduced his income.

With fewer customers, his work hours have been cut, adding to the financial burden, especially with his children still in school.

"Malaking pagkakaiba kaysa sa dati... dapat ay araw-araw [may tina-trabaho], ngayon eh paila-ilang araw lang. Apat na araw halinhinan na laang kami ng aking kasama," Rago said.

FUTURE PLANS

Leovigildo Morpe, the mayor of Rosario, said they have already submitted the necessary documents to the Bureau of Animal Industry, requesting that the town be designated as a "Pink Zone" – an area where pork products can be safely sold and transported.

"Nag-test na kami eh, 'yung 500 meters radius, negative kami, and then 'yung 100 meter radius, negative din," Morpe said.

"Kaya nagre-request kami ng 'Pink Zone' para mailabas na naming ang mga baboy namin," he added.

Meanwhile, the Rosario Municipal Veterinary Office is continuing its efforts to consolidate data on which barangays have confirmed ASF cases.

The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian assured that hog raisers affected by government-ordered depopulation of their livestock will receive financial aid.

"P5,000 bawat ulo, ayon po yan sa Regional Animal Coordinator dito sa atin sa province... yung dine-pop[ulate] lang po ng gobyerno," Dr. Romelito Marasigan, Provincial Veterinarian, said.

Authorities continue to remind the public that pork products from slaughterhouses, which undergo proper inspection, are safe to eat.