Pigs culled due to ASF hit 403,206

MANILA, Philippines — African swine fever (ASF) has continued to spread in the country, with the total number of pigs culled reaching 403,206.

In a virtual briefing yesterday, Bureau of Animal Industry director and chief veterinarian Ronnie Domingo said the figure represents 3.6 percent of the 11.27 million total hog inventory.

Latest government data shows that hogs in 10 regions, 32 provinces, 378 municipalities and 2,024 barangays were affected by ASF.

“The ASF remains centered in Luzon that’s why we are looking at Visayas which has no case yet,” Domingo said.

“We are on the third wave... We need to work more with LGUs (local government units) so that no new area will be affected,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said ASF cases declined when the enhanced community quarantine was implemented from March to June.

Cases have started picking up again when the government eased quarantine restrictions in September.

The DA allocated P110 million under its Bayanihan 2 budget for swine multiplier farm under the national livestock program.

“We will focus on areas that have no case so they can further increase production. We will be giving hogs to backyard raisers. Apart from government interventions, the private sector is gearing for repopulation,” Domingo said.