Cebu City hosts final leg of ASF info drive

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Government is hosting today, August 13, the final leg of the Department of Agriculture and the National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program’s three city information drive.

The ASF information caravan comes on the heels of Cebu City’s July outbreak in Barangay Quiot, where nearly twenty pigs were culled and losses reached hundreds of thousands of pesos.

Prior to the caravan, Mayor Nestor Archival met with partner agencies in a courtesy gathering led by the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), under Dr. Jessica Maribojoc.

The mayor stressed that the caravan is more than a technical exercise—it is a lifeline for those whose livelihoods are at risk.

“This is about taking care of our hog raisers and ensuring food security for our people,” Archival said. “Padayon ta sa paghatag og sakto nga impormasyon ug suporta aron maprotektahan ang atong hog raisers, ilang panginabuhian, ug ang atong livestock sector.”

He emphasized that the program also connects farmers to government support such as the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and insurance programs through the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

The caravan began in Bogo City on August 11, moved to Carcar City yesterday and culminates in Cebu City today.

Each stop has brought together local government units, livestock stakeholders, and technical agencies to strengthen awareness and compliance with biosecurity measures.

In Cebu City, discussions will cover ASF updates at national, regional, and provincial levels, animal movement regulations, meat safety standards, and the proper use of the PCSP Biosecurity Checklist.

An open forum will allow participants to raise concerns directly with experts from the Bureau of Animal Industry, provincial veterinary offices, and DA Regional Field Office 7.

ASF has been a persistent threat to the Philippine hog industry since its first detection in Rizal in 2019, causing losses estimated at P100 billion nationwide and slashing pork production by more than 40 percent in 2021.

Cebu City’s July local outbreak stresses the vulnerability of backyard hog raising, prompting the city to impose strict border controls and transport documentation requirements under an Executive Order from the Mayor.

Authorities warn that ASF is highly resilient, capable of surviving for months in contaminated environments and years in frozen meat, making vigilance and education critical. — /FPL (FREEMAN)