THE continued spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF) already affected 29 towns and cities in Pangasinan and four towns in La Union, is becoming a serious problem in Region 1.

This was the observation shared by Lucrecio Alvear Jr. regional executive director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 1 during the Virtual KBP Forum last Thursday.

Dr. Florentino Adame, DA-Regional Field Office I Chief of the Regulatory Division and in charge of ASF, shared the observation as he pointed out that about 11,035 hogs had been depopulated as of Aug. 6 that adversely affected some 1,530 hog raisers, he said.

Alviar said while Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte are still not ASF-affected, Pangasinan is most affected with 29 municipalities and four in La Union.

Meanwhile, Adame said DA recently identified affected hog raisers by the outbreak and had paid 34 barangays composed of 560 farmers in 12 towns. About P22-million had been paid as indemnification pay, he added.

The owners of culled hog/s were paid P5,000 indemnity for a maximum of 20 heads per hog raiser and also received animals for livestock raising as an alternative to their lost backyard hog raising.

Meanwhile, he said DA is strengthening its coordination with the local government units, Municipal Agriculture Offices and local Veterinary Offices to boost monitoring in quarantine checkpoints.

Nonetheless, Adame said despite the situation, there is still enough pork supply in Region 1 but if the virus continues to affect hog growers, the impact will likely be felt  in December.

He advised affected hog growers not to raise anew pigs in the six months yet until the DA shall have conducted serologic survey on remaining pigs around the affected outbreak areas and if proven already negative of the virus.

He said hog raiders should heighten their bio-security measures to curb the spread of the ASF virus. (PhilStar Wire Service/ECV)

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