Cebu City heightens anti-ASF measures

CEBU, Philippines — The number of hogs culled in Barangay Toong has risen to 57 as the Cebu City government intensifies its African Swine Fever (ASF) containment operations.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, confirmed that the burial began on September 21 with 39 hogs from four owners in a single compound, followed by 14 more pigs from two owners after laboratory results confirmed ASF infection.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), explained that the pigs were dying gradually, making burial necessary to prevent further spread of the virus.

She clarified that only barangays Toong and Quiot have officially confirmed ASF cases.

Buhisan and Pamutan, though not yet confirmed, are considered “hotspots” due to their proximity to Toong, prompting stricter inter-barangay border controls.

Maribojoc admitted that one of the biggest challenges is the reluctance of some hog raisers to cooperate with blood testing.

She said many fear that their pigs will be culled immediately after samples are taken, preventing them from accessing benefits such as livestock insurance, indemnification from the national disaster fund, and alternative livelihood assistance like layer chicks provided by the city.

The burial operations are strictly managed by the DVMF.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) digs burial pits using backhoes, while the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) oversees the burial process. Hog owners are not allowed to handle the burial to avoid further contamination.

The city’s detailed ASF intervention plan includes both ongoing and upcoming measures.

These cover the extension of border control in ASF hotspots, disease surveillance through blood sampling, strict monitoring of animal movement within a 500-meter radius of confirmed cases, and regular reporting of pig morbidity and mortality through barangay livestock coordinators.

Livelihood support has also been initiated, with cockerels distributed to hog raisers who joined ASF prevention campaigns and livestock insurance programs.

Additional interventions are being prepared, including the culling of all hogs within a 500-meter radius of confirmed ASF-positive areas, subject to national guidelines and veterinary assessment.

The operation will involve coordination among the Cebu City Police Office, DEPW, CDRRMO, barangay responders, and affected hog raisers.

To cushion the impact, the city will provide alternative livelihood assistance through the distribution of ready-to-lay poultry with support from UNIFEEDS.

ASF, while harmless to humans, is fatal to hogs and poses a serious threat to Cebu’s livestock industry.

With ASF now confirmed in Toong and Quiot, the city government vowed to sustain surveillance, enforce strict biosecurity, and intensify community education to protect the city’s multi-billion hog industry. — (FREEMAN)