NO PORK IN, NO RISK: Aklan and Guimaras lock down over ASF threat

By Rjay Zuriaga Castyor

The provincial governments of Aklan and Guimaras have imposed a temporary ban on the entry, transit, and transport of live swine, pork products, and swine genetic materials from African swine fever (ASF)-affected areas, including Capiz, Iloilo, and the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores issued an executive order on June 23, establishing comprehensive veterinary quarantine, border control, and biosecurity protocols to prevent the reintroduction of ASF to the province.

The move comes as ASF cases continue to spread across neighboring areas.

In Capiz, the towns of Panitan and Pontevedra, as well as Roxas City, have confirmed ASF cases.

In Negros Occidental, more than 500 pigs have died from the disease in San Enrique town.

Although Iloilo has yet to confirm an ASF outbreak, the provincial government has reported unusual hog deaths in Dumangas, with officials saying laboratory tests have yet to determine the cause.

African swine fever is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease of domestic and wild pigs that poses no risk to human health, which is why containment relies heavily on movement controls and farm biosecurity.

Western Visayas is one of the country’s top hog-producing regions, and based on the Bureau of Animal Industry’s most recent zoning, Guimaras had been among the few areas in the region still classified free of the disease — raising the stakes for both provinces’ preemptive bans.

“The risk of ASF reintroduction remains due to the occurrence of suspected, probable, and confirmed ASF cases in neighboring provinces and regions,” the order read.

“The movement […] from ASF-affected or high-risk areas poses a continuing threat to the swine industry, food security, and livelihood of hog raisers in the province of Aklan,” it added.

To protect the local swine industry in Aklan, Miraflores said all municipalities and barangays sharing borders, ports, and coastal routes are required to maintain veterinary border control checkpoints and biosecurity stations.

Any regulated commodities allowed entry must first secure a Certificate of Acceptance (CA) from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET), which requires valid veterinary health certificates and shipping permits.

The order also mandates enhanced surveillance and random testing of swine populations across the province.

Miraflores directed local officials and biosecurity officers to immediately report any unusual swine mortality or suspected illegal animal movements to OPVET.

All slaughterhouses and meat vendors are reminded to comply with strict national meat inspection codes, including mandatory antemortem and postmortem examinations of all animals and carcasses to ensure food safety.

Violators face confiscation and disposal of illegally transported hogs or pork products, suspension or cancellation of business permits, blacklisting from entering Aklan for repeat offenses, and possible criminal or civil charges.

Meanwhile, Guimaras Gov. Ma. Lucille Nava issued a separate executive order on June 26, imposing a temporary ban on products from areas classified by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as red zones, or areas with confirmed ASF cases.

The order was issued after the BAI updated its ASF zoning classification, placing several towns in Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region, and other areas outside Guimaras under infected status.

While Nueva Valencia has been classified as a yellow zone, or high-risk area, the rest of Guimaras remains free of ASF.

The Guimaras order prohibits the entry of live pigs; raw or uncooked pork; fresh, frozen, or processed pork products; and livestock transport vehicles coming from infected areas.

Vehicles transporting animal feeds, poultry commodities, table eggs, and similar products from outside the province must present a Certificate of Disinfection before entering Guimaras.

The movement of hogs within Guimaras will be allowed only with prior authorization from the destination municipality, and must be accompanied by a valid Certificate of Disinfection issued by the municipality of origin.

All transport vehicles and animals must also undergo mandatory disinfection before inter-municipal movement.