PHOTO FROM AFP/INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines – The number of active African swine fever (ASF) cases nationwide slightly increased towards the end of December 2024, based on the Bureau of Animal Industry’s (BAI) tally.
In a report, the BAI said 21 provinces in 11 regions have active ASF cases as of Dec. 27, 2024.
Provinces with ASF cases are Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Cagayan, Zambales, Batangas, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur.
The total count was a slight increase from 19 provinces in 10 regions recorded by the agency as of Dec. 6, 2024.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) instituted various measures such as government-controlled vaccination and strict border checkpoints as well as revised some policies to prevent the further spread of animal diseases.
“Another major accomplishment yung I think would be how we tackled the ASF issue this year. The checkpoints we established were quite good. We are constantly communicating with the LGUs (local government units) and the stakeholders that’s why the ASF didn’t spread too much,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said last month.
Tiu Laurel said the DA simplified the classification of areas based on whether or not they are infected with ASF to address the stigma that comes with such. It was targeting to release the policy this month.
“It’s easier. There’s already a stigma with the current system because hog raisers or piggeries do not want to be placed in the red zone. That system already has a negative connotation with everybody,” he said.
Under the DA’s existing rules, a particular area is placed under a red zone if there are confirmed outbreaks or active cases and a pink zone for those with no ASF but are adjacent to an infected zone.
This zoning system was implemented in 2019 after the Philippines recorded its first ASF outbreak that same year.
Tiu Laurel also said the DA would also allow pigs to be transported from ASF-infected areas, provided they undergo testing and present negative results.
Moreover, the DA is targeting to distribute 490,000 doses of ASF vaccines nationwide. So far, the initial 10,000 doses have been distributed, while the rollout of 150,000 doses is ongoing.