Pork supply stable despite Batangas ASF outbreak — Department of Agriculture

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has given assurance that pork supply is adequate amid fresh outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in four areas in Batangas.

At a press briefing yesterday, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said efforts are being done by concerned local government units to contain the outbreak and prevent the spread of disease to other LGUs.

“There are four towns in Batangas that reported ASF outbreaks, including Lobo and Lipa. I just forgot the two other (municipalities) that also recorded new cases,” De Mesa told journalists yesterday.

He blamed the new ASF cases in Batangas on heavy rains and floods spawned by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

“We previously declared Lipa as free from ASF,” he said.

De Mesa said that outbreaks would continue as the country still lacks the vaccine that could control or eradicate the disease.

“Water is a primary vector of the virus. Flood can spread ASF. It was proven so many times, especially during flooding in Central Luzon,” he said.

Movement of hogs also contributes to the spread of ASF, he added.

“Biosecurity (measure) is important as the movement of traders also causes (the outbreak of ASF). Unless we have an effective vaccine, the problem will persist,” he said.

Outbreaks normally happen in backyard farms, because unlike commercial farms, backyard hograising has no effective biosecurity measure.

De Mesa said the outbreaks in Batangas were not expected to affect the supply of pork in Metro Manila as Central Luzon remains as the principal pork producer and supplier. He said retail prices of pork in Metro Manila remain stable.

Based on the latest monitoring of the DA, the price of pork belly ranged between P320 and P400 per kilo and pork shoulder between P285 and P380.