Capitol mulls new strategies vs ASF; 17 towns placed under ‘red zone’

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Iloilo Provincial Government is considering a new approach in the fight against African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province, as the hog disease continues to spread to different towns.

In a press conference on Monday, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. reiterated that the province should come up with a new approach and not just focus on the ASF prevention and containment campaign, but also on addressing the nutrition and possible pork supply shortage in Iloilo.

“Again, we are now fighting ASF in two fronts, the ASF prevention and containment, and ang piyak of course is we are fighting the supply of pork. Amu ni ang aton gina-tulok nga based on the national data and at the same time sa trend naton diri, ang pwede naton matawag nga new normal sa ASF, nga once makasulod na siya, hindi na siya maghalin basta-basta and we have to adjust and batuan gid ang supply.,” Defensor said.

The governor earlier said that the province has already suffered a 35 percent decrease in pork supply since the ASF infected the province in October 2022.

Defensor noted that the depleted pork supply in the province could translate into reduced source of protein, which would affect the nutrition of local residents.

“It is a nutrition issue because it is about the source of protein, amu na batuan naton subong i-replinish ang mga baboy nga nadula sa aton imbentaryo, we will have a new approach,” he stressed.

The provincial government also planned to start hog repopulation and to prepare for the possible nutrition problem and pork supply shortage that may happen in three months, if the hog population is not replenished.

“We will replenish didto sa mga lugar nga pag-on kita sa ASF so that the risks are lower. These are not necessarily ASF measures, these are agricultural measures sa pagpadamo sang options naton, hindi lang sa pig kay pwede kita nga magbawi sa manok ukon isda. Inland water aquaculture, amu na ang aton subong gina-develop nga approach, together with the recovery process (repopulation),” he added.

The Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office (IPVO) has already started examining if red zone areas in the province can undergo repopulation.

The provincial government also welcomed the idea of using artificial insemination instead of a boar to prevent possible ASF transmission in areas where there are no more cases or the hog depopulation is complete.

Meanwhile, the number of towns in Iloilo province placed under the African Swine Fever (ASF) “red zone” (infected area) zoning classification has increased to 16, after the IPVO confirmed that two barangays in Concepcion, Iloilo reported confirmed ASF cases.

Defensor also issued Executive Order (EO) No. 001-A, amending EO 460 s. 2022, which implemented adjusted quarantine procedures and disease prevention and control measures against ASF in the province.

Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Administrative Order 52 mandated that a specific municipality would only be placed under a “red zone” if two or more barangays were already affected.

ASF has already spread to 22 towns in the province, and 17 are in the red zone – Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Mina, Barotac Nueva, Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, Banate, Janiuay, San Dionisio, Batad, Dingle, Zarraga and Concepcion.

Only the towns of Duenas, Pototan, Badiangan, Estancia, and San Enrique (latest addition) remain under the pink zone, as only one barangay in these municipalities has cases so far.

Tabuada reiterated that the movement of live pigs, pork, pork products, and swine genetic materials in and out of the identified ‘red zone’ towns is prohibited.

Hog raisers in Iloilo towns have also lost nearly P1 billion worth of swine since ASF hit the province, according to Tabuada.

He explained that the value of 96,805 hog heads that were either depopulated, died because of suspected ASF cases, or were disposed of or sold for less value is around P968.050 million.

Data from IPVO indicated that a total of 2,707 hogs were already depopulated after testing positive for ASF, while 5,303 hogs died naturally or from suspected ASF.