Negros Oriental ramps up ASF response

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria assured hog raisers that the provincial government is ready to contain the spread of African swine fever, or ASF, following recently confirmed cases in La Libertad town.

During the Provincial ASF Task Force Coordination Meeting on Wednesday, Sagarbarria gathered officials from the Provincial Veterinary Office, national agencies, law enforcement, local government units, and swine industry stakeholders to strengthen measures against the disease.

The governor said the province has experienced ASF outbreaks in the past, giving authorities established protocols and a stronger response system to prevent wider transmission.

He emphasized the need to build on lessons from previous outbreaks by tightening quarantine and containment efforts.

“This is something that has happened before. This is not something new to us because we already know the protocols and procedures so that it would not affect Negros Oriental,” the governor said.

Sagarbarria also urged backyard hog raisers to avoid feeding pigs food scraps, noting that initial reports suggest the La Libertad cases may have been linked to leftover food brought from a fiesta in Negros Occidental and later fed to swine.

“Our ultimate goal is to contain this problem because we don’t want the same thing to happen again. We have to work together as one,” he added.

He encouraged raisers to use properly prepared feeds to protect their livestock.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, but it does not pose a health risk to humans.

The disease can cause severe losses to the swine industry because affected farms may face culling, movement restrictions, and trade limitations.

Sagarbarria said border checkpoints and monitoring teams have already been activated, while surveillance continues in affected and high-risk areas.

The governor also appealed to Cebu to continue accepting hog shipments from Negros Oriental, subject to proper testing, to help sustain the livelihood of local hog raisers.

Provincial Veterinarian Melody Dulce Amor Vilan said the PVO has intensified surveillance in La Libertad, particularly within a 500-meter radius of reported swine deaths.

So far, 65 pigs have undergone blood sampling, with specimens tested through accredited laboratories.

Blood collection is also set to begin in Amlan next week, while surveillance activities have been scheduled in San Jose and Sibulan following reports of pig deaths.

From January to June, the PVO collected 751 blood samples across the province.

Of these, 746 tested negative, while five samples from La Libertad were confirmed positive for ASF.

Samples undergo initial testing at the PVO laboratory before confirmatory analysis at the Bureau of Animal Industry laboratory.

The province has also deployed surveillance teams, provided personal protective equipment to responders, and maintained border checkpoints in Basay, Mabinay, Canlaon City, and Vallehermoso to strengthen disease prevention.

Sagarbarria said the priority is to stop further transmission while assuring hog raisers and the public that there is no need to panic.

“We will help whatever we can,” he added.

He noted that ASF can be very damaging and urged everyone to do their part to prevent its spread.

The province’s heightened response comes after neighboring Negros Occidental confirmed an ASF case in San Enrique town and reported additional infections recently in two barangays in Bacolod City.

The cases prompted some local government units in Negros Occidental to control the movement and temporarily ban the entry of pork and pork products from ASF-affected areas.