Cebu remains ASF-free

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu province remains free from African swine fever (ASF) as authorities continue to tighten biosecurity measures, expand disease surveillance, and enforce a temporary ban on the entry of live hogs and pork products from ASF-affected areas to protect the province's multi-billion-peso livestock industry.

During the Philippine Information Agency's Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Wednesday, Cebu Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy said Executive Order No. 39, which took effect on July 7 and remains in force until August 21, expanded the entry ban to include Negros Oriental and other ASF-affected localities, in addition to Negros Occidental.

"Cebu province remains ASF-free," Vincoy said, adding that the executive order reinforces emergency preparedness, disease surveillance, and biosecurity measures among local government units (LGUs).

Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 Regional Livestock Coordinator and ASF Focal Person Zeam Voltaire E. Amper said the ASF situation in Central Visayas has improved significantly, noting that Bohol has not reported any active ASF cases since April.

He added that several LGUs in Cebu have upgraded their ASF zoning status from red or infected areas to pink zones after testing negative for active infections through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the gold standard for ASF detection.

Although the current entry ban is set to expire on August 21, Vincoy said it may still be extended based on recommendations from the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), which continue to monitor ports, municipalities, and veterinary reports.

She said close coordination among the DA, BAI, and provincial veterinary offices enabled Cebu and Bohol to immediately implement preventive measures after ASF outbreaks were confirmed in neighboring provinces in the Negros Island Region.

To strengthen long-term protection against ASF, the Cebu Provincial Government has adopted Provincial Ordinance No. 2025-20, establishing the framework for responding to future ASF threats while defining the responsibilities of LGUs, barangays, and veterinary offices in implementing surveillance and biosecurity measures.

Blood samples collected during surveillance are examined at the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, with confirmatory testing conducted by the BAI.

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has completed active ASF surveillance in 18 LGUs, with 16 already recognized by the BAI after testing negative for the disease.

Vincoy encouraged more LGUs to apply for the Recognized ASF-Free (RAS ASF) certification, saying it offers significant benefits to hog raisers.

Under the certification, hog raisers from certified municipalities may transport live hogs outside Cebu without securing a negative ASF laboratory test for every shipment. Depending on the municipality's classification, the certification remains valid for three to six months, reducing both costs and processing time.

Producers only need to secure a certified copy of their municipality's RAS ASF certificate and attach it to their online shipping permit application with the BAI.

Vincoy said the province is prioritizing surveillance in previously infected LGUs to help them move from red to pink, light green, and eventually green status under the BAI's zoning classification.

She said Bantayan Island and Camotes Island have already been confirmed as green zones through surveillance, with certifications valid for six months.

LGUs that have received RAS recognition include Carcar City, Bogo City, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Liloan, and San Fernando. Several other LGUs have already tested negative for ASF and are awaiting official certification from the BAI central office.

Vincoy clarified that an area's previous red classification refers to ASF outbreaks recorded in 2023 and does not necessarily reflect its current disease status.

Stable pork supply

Despite the temporary entry ban, the DA-7 assured the public that Central Visayas has enough pork production to meet consumer demand.

Through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, the agency conducts weekly monitoring of pork prices across the region to detect unusual price movements.

While the DA does not regulate pork prices, it provides market analysis to LGUs, with local price coordinating councils determining appropriate interventions when necessary.

Amper said current production data indicate that Central Visayas continues to have an adequate pork supply, helping stabilize prices while maintaining the region's ASF-free status.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority data, Vincoy said Cebu's hog inventory increased by 27 percent compared with the same period last year.

She also noted that live hog prices have declined from around P218 per kilogram to as low as P120 to P140 per kilogram in some areas, prompting the provincial government to encourage traders and lechon producers to source hogs from Cebu and Bohol.

Biosecurity support

To prevent the reintroduction of ASF, the DA-7 continues to distribute disinfectants and other biosecurity supplies to LGUs while conducting training for farmers and agricultural technicians.

Amper said the agency promotes two levels of biosecurity, including a simplified Level 1 system for smallholder farmers, through training conducted with local governments and the Agricultural Training Institute.

He also urged livestock traders and transport operators to register with the government and comply with transport requirements, including health certificates, ASF testing results, and other documentary requirements under provincial ordinances.

Vincoy assured hog raisers that municipal veterinarians and livestock technicians remain ready to respond to reports of swine diseases, particularly during the rainy season when common swine illnesses become more prevalent.

She acknowledged that some backyard raisers may have difficulty distinguishing ASF from other swine diseases, such as swine flu and diarrhea, because several symptoms are similar.

Every Municipal Agriculture Office has trained livestock technicians working alongside Barangay Animal Health Aides, all of whom have undergone specialized training conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Office.

Under the reporting system, suspected cases are first reported to the Municipal Agriculture Office for immediate field response. If additional technical assistance is needed, the LGU coordinates with the PVO for disease investigation.

ASF vaccine

Amper said the ASF vaccine remains under a controlled rollout by the BAI, with no commercially available vaccine currently licensed for sale in the Philippines.

He explained that vaccines intended for commercial distribution must first secure approval from the Food and Drug Administration after sufficient trial data establish their safety and effectiveness.

Based on trial findings, antibodies produced by vaccinated pigs were observed to decline after about five months, raising concerns over long-term protection and immunity passed from breeding sows to piglets.

He also cited trial results showing that fragments of the ASF virus were detected in the urine and feces of some vaccinated pigs, which could pose risks in backyard farms with inadequate biosecurity.

Because of these findings, the BAI continues to limit vaccine use under its controlled rollout program while gathering additional data.

Vincoy likewise warned hog raisers against purchasing ASF vaccines advertised online, stressing that no ASF vaccine has been licensed for commercial sale in the country and that such products are being sold illegally. — /FPL (FREEMAN)