Provincial gov’t mulls hog repopulation amid ASF scare

By John Noel E. Herrera

The Iloilo Provincial Government plans to start hog repopulation in the province, including in the towns placed under the “red (infected) zone”  classification amid the continuous spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., in a press conference on Friday, Feb 10, 2023, said that they are still examining if there are already red zone areas in the province that can undergo repopulation, while also targeting to distribute more swine in areas that are not affected by ASF.

“Ang pamangkot dira, pwede na bala kita ka-butang sang mga idik to test the area if it is ready, kung hindi na mag positive ang mga baboy dira, and with that, pwede na ka repopulate bala. We are examining our red zones kung pwede na kita kapadayon,” Defensor said.

“Kung mahimo pa lang, maumpisa kita dira sa red zone naton, sa mga barangay nga pwede na, kung nag negative na sila and sa mga barangay kung sa diin mabakod sila kay may ara man mga barangay nga wala pa gid masudlan (ASF), may nagabato,” he added.

Part of Defensor’s Executive Order No. 11 s. 2023, stated that the city/municipal ASF task force, and biosecurity officers are enjoined to conduct monitoring and surveillance to determine the recovery status of the red zone LGUs while restocking (repopulation of pigs) to full capacity shall only be allowed when the red (infected) zone category of an area is lowered to pink (buffer) zone, and the farm must agree to “regular farm visitation for animal health monitoring, surveillance, and biosecurity evaluation.”

The governor also earlier 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.

He emphasized that repopulation is also one way to address the possible lack of pork supply in the province, as they targeted the towns of Oton and San Miguel, where the first confirmed ASF cases were recorded, to be the pilot areas for repopulation.

“We are also addressing the supply side kay halin sang Oktubre, nabuhin ang aton imbentaryo sang baboy because nag depopulate kita, that is why may 35 percent decrease kita so far. Ang aton subong nga concern dira, aside from fighting ASF itself, ang pag-uli sang mga baboy nga nadula sa aton and it will be addressed by our recovery process,” Defensor said.

The governor also met with Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista to ask for help through the DA’s livestock and dispersal program.

“Nangayo kita sang bulig sa livestock and dispersal program sang DA together with us, so that we can stimulate the industry sang mga munisipyo nga mapag-on kita para nga mabawi ta to ang imbentaryo naton,” he said.

Defensor noted that they are also in the process of rebuilding the confidence of farmers to return to the hog-raising business as the province continues to strengthen its biosecurity measures.

“The approach is small scale, low risk para hindi dako ang risgo sang aton mga farmers. Sa kabilugan, we are also in the process of convincing our farmers to go back to pig farming. That is not easy, and we understand that kay nakulbaan pa sila. That’s why we continue to clean the province,” Defensor said.

Meanwhile, data from IPVO indicated that ASF has already spread to 21 towns in the province, and 15 are placed under red zone – Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Mina, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, Banate, Janiuay, San Dionisio, Batad, and Dingle.

Only the towns of Duenas, Concepcion, Pototan, Badiangan, Zarraga, and Estancia remain under the pink zone, as only one barangay in these municipalities has cases so far.

The IPVO also said the number of depopulated hogs in the province is at 2,393, while 261 farmers were already affected by the depopulation.