The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confirmed new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in three towns of Occidental Mindoro.
BAI said in a statement yesterday local government units (LGUs) are conducting thorough surveillance and immediate depopulation of infected hogs as well as preventive culling around affected areas.
BAI said a number of barangays in Sta. Cruz and San Jose reported unusual number of pig deaths in Occidental Mindoro on January 12.
DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said blood samples sent earlier this month to BAI confirmed seven ASF cases in San Jose and five in Sta. Cruz and two cases in the municipality of Rizal as of January 17.
BAI added ASF cases in the island were first detected in Oriental Mindoro late last year.
Pig production in the Oriental Mindoro towns of Naujan and Calapan are now being strictly monitored due to previous ASF cases while the town of Baco is being monitored for the virus.
Under DA regulations, a town is placed under red zone even if only one barangay tests positive, restricting hog movement within the area.
Tighter mobility restrictions are imposed if two or more barangays test positive for the virus.
DA is now awaiting requests from LGUs to activate additional surveillance groups and from affected farmers for the indemnification of slaughtered hogs.
The agency also pays P5,000 for each slaughtered swine due to ASF with the limit at 20 heads of pigs.
Latest BAI data showed as of December 29, 2023, six regions, 10 provinces, 28 municipalities and 71 barangays have active ASF cases.
Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country produced 1,737,119.08 metric tons (MT) of hog. Of the said volume, Oriental Mindoro produced 26,907.62 MT equivalent to 1.55 percent while Occidental Mindoro produced 8,025.71 MT equivalent to 0.46 percent for the same year.
