Over 15,000 Hog Deaths Recorded in Batangas Due to African Swine Fever

The Batangas provincial government has reported 15,212 hog deaths in Lobo town due to the African swine fever (ASF), as reported by Bernadette Reyes on 24 Oras Weekend.

ASF has affected 21 out of the 26 barangays in Lobo, primarily impacting backyard farms. “We have recorded around 15,212 hog mortalities, including those that died, were depopulated, or buried. This number does not include unreported cases where farmers buried the hogs themselves,” said Angelique Romero, the Public Information Officer of Lobo town.

In response to the ASF outbreak, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking various measures. These include vaccinations and the continued repopulation of hogs in different regions across the country. The DA also indicated the possibility of importing hogs if necessary to stabilize supply.

Additionally, the DA is working on a new policy to regulate the transport and sale of ASF-free hogs from areas classified as red zones. “We are waiting for the issuance of these guidelines to ensure that ASF-free pigs reach markets and slaughterhouses, avoiding areas impacted by ASF,” explained DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.

The government and other stakeholders are also preparing for the potential threat of ASF amidst the upcoming La Niña season, with calls for a national state of calamity to manage the disease’s spread effectively.