August 13, 2024
Philippines to set up livestock checkpoints to combat ASF spread
The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) announced the establishment of several livestock checkpoints across Luzon in response to the rapid spread of African swine fever (ASF) in Batangas province, GMA News reported.
This measure aims to contain the virus while the country awaits the arrival of ASF vaccines, which are expected in a few weeks.
The DA emphasised that these checkpoints are a temporary solution. "We have the funds to procure the vaccines and the emergency funds to indemnify swine raisers adversely affected by the resurgence of the ASF virus," stated Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. He noted that while vaccine procurement is crucial for controlling the outbreak, there is a delay in securing them.
DA Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Constante Palabrica explained that the additional border controls are intended to stop the movement of diseased swine, a major contributor to the rapid spread of ASF in Batangas. "We have set up additional livestock quarantines and will keep it there at least until December 31," said Palabrica. "Policemen along with Bureau of Animal Industry and other DA personnel will man the checkpoints," he added.
Palabrica, who is also a veterinary medicine expert, noted that the border controls will help prevent the transport of other diseased animals, including birds. In Lobo, Batangas, 20 out of 26 barangays have been affected by ASF, prompting the declaration of a state of calamity. This allows the local government to access its calamity fund, as ASF has already caused P103 million worth of damages.
The DA has identified central burial sites for swine infected with ASF or those that have died from the virus. This initiative is part of a broader effort to control and ultimately eradicate the virus, which has severely impacted the swine industry since its first report in 2019.
The ASF outbreak has significantly reduced the national swine population, which dropped from 12.7 million in 2019 to an estimated 9.9 million by the end of 2023. According to Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) monitoring, ASF has spread across all 17 regions of the Philippines, affecting 74 provinces. As of August 8, 64 municipalities in 22 provinces reported active ASF cases.
- GMA News