ILOILO City – Farmers are being urged to refrain from feeding their swine with food scraps to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF).
Jonic Natividad, chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas-Regulatory Division, said swine that tested positive for ASF in Aklan may have acquired the hog disease from food scraps.
On April 13, Gov. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores of Aklan confirmed that the province’s first ASF cases were detected in Barangay Arcangel, Balete.
“In our talk with the provincial veterinarian, the possible source is through swill feeding,” said Natividad.
The official said, based on their analysis and previous experience, the food could have come from ASF-infected frozen food that were brought to the area.
“Through the BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry), DA has provided them with a disinfectant vehicle worth around P3.5 million since Aklan is an entry point from Luzon,” he added.
Natividad said since they could not control the movement of people or easily open any baggage, farmers were advised to just observe and practice proper biosecurity.
Meantime, Balete mayor Dexter M. Calizo issued Executive Order No. 6, placing the entire municipality on restricted status for hog traders and livestock transport carriers.
“No movement, shipment, and trading of live hogs and all kinds of pork products coming from Barangay Arcangel to other barangays in Balete and the rest of the province of Aklan is allowed,” read part of the order.
Aklan has about 110,000 hogs, of which 97 percent are backyard-raised.
Currently, only the provinces of Antique and Negros Occidental are considered ASF-free in Western Visayas. (PNA)/PN
