Declare state of calamity, group asks President Marcos

Amid the spread of ASF

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers’ group Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (PPFP) yesterday asked President Marcos to declare a national state of calamity amid the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones, PPFP chair, said at a press conference that the declaration of a state of calamity nationwide is necessary for the government to order a mass vaccination of hogs to contain the ASF outbreak.

“As early as now, (the government) should declare a national emergency or state of calamity in the entire country and allot at least P5.4 billion for mass vaccination,” Briones said.

He added that Marcos could tap the calamity fund to finance the procurement of ASF vaccines, noting that 5.4 million backyard hog raisers in the country could not afford the P600-per-dose cost of vaccine.

Briones said the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s plan to procure 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine is not enough to cover all the hogs in Batangas alone.

“We already lost P150 billion (since the outbreak of ASF in 2019) and there is now a resurgence of the outbreak. It is important to allocate funds for the vaccination of all the hogs,” Briones stressed.

The lawmaker warned that the pork supply in Metro Manila would be affected if the spread of ASF in the province persists, Batangas being its main supplier.

“The spread of ASF (in Batangas) was due to the non-reporting (of backyard farmers). They still sell their pigs even though there are already symptoms. Once you touch an infected pig, it will result in the spread of ASF,” Briones said.

ASF threatens 1 million hogs  

According to DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa, the spread of ASF to eight areas in Batangas is threatening more than one million hogs in the province.

De Mesa said at a press conference yesterday that the ASF outbreak has reached San Juan and Tuy towns, adding to the five towns and one city that were previously affected.

He said the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and local government units are closely working together to contain the spread of the disease.

“All infected animals have to be disposed of properly,” De Mesa said.

The DA official also confirmed yesterday that ASF has spread to 251 barangays nationwide, an increase from the 150 barangays earlier reported to be affected.

“We are now working in tandem with provincial governments, municipal veterinarians to control ASF not only in Batangas,” he said.

Based on the latest data from the BAI, at least 11 regions, 22 provinces and 65 municipalities have recorded ASF outbreaks.

In Negros, authorities are scrambling to prevent its spread following the detection of new cases in West Balabag, Valencia town in Negros Oriental.

Dr. Placeda Lemana, Provincial Veterinary Office head of Negros Occidental, said checkpoints have been heightened in Kabankalan City and Hinobaan town, which share border roads with Negros Oriental, to control the transport of live pigs, pork and related products.

In Negros Oriental, BAI quarantine officer Alfonso Tundag said they were investigating the resurgence of ASF cases in Valencia town.

As of Wednesday, at least 160 hogs have been infected and are scheduled for culling, he added.

Lemana said San Carlos and Kabankalan cities as well as La Castellana town have been declared ASF-free, but are still waiting for a BAI certification.

Negros Occidental has imposed a ban on the entry of pork from Luzon, Mindanao, Cebu, Panay and Negros Oriental.

Hog fatalities due to ASF and other swine diseases reached 17,801 last year, representing 9.96 percent of the total hog population in Negros Occidental.

The hog industry has incurred P200 million in losses. — Gilbert Bayoran