ILOILO – A total of 62 barangays from nine towns in this province recorded African Swine Fever (ASF) infections as of Dec. 29.
Oton, the first town to record cases of the hog disease in the region, has the highest number of affected barangays at 31, followed by San Miguel (six), Alimodian (two), Leganes (six), Santa Barbara (seven), New Lucena (four), Mina (two), Barotac Nuevo (two), and Dumangas (two).
Below is the breakdown of ASF-affected barangays based from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO):
* Oton (31) – Bita Norte, Caboloan Norte, Caboloan Sur, Sta. Monica, Bita Sur, Abilay Norte, Galang, Tagbak Norte, Buray, Sta. Rita, San Antonio, Poblacion South, Pakiad, Poblacion West, Mambog, Batuan Ilaya, Sta. Clara, Sambaludan, Calam-isan, Cadinglian, Salngan, Batuan Ilaud, Botong, Pob. East, Trapiche, Tuburan, Tagbak Sur, Rizal, Abilay Sur, Pulo Maestra Vita, and Lambuyao
* San Migue (six) – San Jose, Poblacion (Brgy. 15), Sta. Cruz, Igtambo, Sta. Teresa, and Sto. Niño
* Alimodian (two) – Buhay and Coline
* Leganes (six) – MV Hechanova, Guinobatan, San Vicente, Nabitasan, Guihaman, and Lapaypon
* Santa Barbara (seven) – Balabag, San Sebastian, Tig-tig, Buyo, Café, Nasugban, and Caloboa Oeste
* New Lucena (four) – Badiang, Guinobatan, Bulolacao, and Bita-og
* Mina (two) – Janipaan East and Badiangan
* Barotac Nuevo (two) – Cabilauan and Cruz
* Dumangas (two) – Jardin and Ermita
As of Dec. 29, 2,000 swine heads were culled: Oton (905), San Miguel (466), Alimodian (57), Leganes (147), Santa Barbara (244), New Lucena (62), Mina (127), and Barotac Nuevo (12).
Furthermore, the depopulation affected 206 hog farmers from the towns of Oton (72 farmers), San Miguel (43), Alimodian (12), Leganes (27), Santa Barbara (36), New Lucena (five), Mina (nine), and Barotac Nuevo (two).
The PVO is still collecting reports from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Dumangas, where ASF was detected recently as per Department of Agriculture Clinical Laboratory Report No. 22-0939 dated Dec. 22, 2022.
According to Dr. Darel Tabuada, PVO head, the spread of ASF to other towns has been gradual as hog farmers have become more cautious and with the efforts of the Iloilo provincial government headed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. to set in place minimum biosecurity measures.
The TaHum campaign establishes the following as minimum biosecurity standards for ASF:
* Tapak – use of sanitizing footbath
* Hugas – proper washing and cleaning practices and methods
* Matinlo nga Pagpakaon – safe feeding and use of potable water compliant with regulatory requirements
Also, the PVO has been strategic in implementing depopulation so as not to drastically affect the hog industry by focusing only on infected areas.
Tabuada said for those within a 0.5-kilometer radius of the infected area/s, they first monitor to see if hogs in the area develop symptoms before depopulating.
“Lain na ang approach sang depopulation. Indi na sia sa 0.5 kilometers radius but focused sa infected areas,” said Tabuada.
The provincial veterinarian also observed that hog farmers in “red zones” or infected areas shift their focus towards selling, rather than reproducing swine for now.
“Gamay na lang gid ang baboy dira nga areas. Pareho sang San Miguel, sang una ang movement sang baboy dira grabe mo, subong lain na, also with Oton,” he said.
Here, Tabuada again reminded the nine towns under the “red zone” that, especially during this season of festivities, the movement of live pigs, pork, pork products (fresh/frozen pork products and uncooked processed pork products, except cooked and canned processed pork products), and swine genetic materials in and out of the said municipality is still prohibited./PN
