Cebu ramps up ASF surveillance

Local

CEBU provincial government is moving to expand disease-free areas for hogs as it seeks “green zone” status for localities previously affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy said the Provincial Veterinary Office continues to collect blood samples from different local government units every week to monitor the province’s ASF status.

“We continue our ASF surveillance... The results coming from the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory are negative,” Vincoy said.

Vincoy said laboratory tests have continued to show no confirmed ASF infection in Cebu Province despite surveillance in different municipalities and cities.

She cautioned against automatically linking hog deaths to ASF, saying livestock mortality can also occur as part of normal production losses.

Veterinary personnel recently monitored several areas after reports raised concerns about possible ASF infections, but laboratory tests found no evidence of the disease.

Vincoy said the cases also did not show patterns consistent with ASF.

The provincial government now wants areas that authorities tagged as ASF-positive in 2023 to regain green zone classification, which would help improve hog movement and support the recovery of Cebu’s swine industry.

“We want nga ang katong tagged before pag-2023 nga mga positive areas kay padung na gyud siya sa green zone. Mao na gyud na atong target,” Vincoy said.

The initiative also supports Gov. Pamela Baricuatro’s efforts to help backyard hog raisers expand their market opportunities and eventually sell their hogs within Cebu.

The Provincial Veterinary Office continues to coordinate with barangays, municipalities and cities to strengthen biosecurity measures. It also works with the Philippine National Police to enforce regulations on animal movement.

The province has been conducting consultations and coordination meetings with industry stakeholders to reinforce preventive measures and prepare for the next phase of ASF management once the current entry restrictions expire.

Sixteen LGUs have secured Recognition of Active Surveillance for African Swine Fever (RAS-ASF) certification from the Bureau of Animal Industry after consistently obtaining negative laboratory results.

The certification allows qualified backyard raisers to transport and market hogs outside their respective localities without undergoing additional laboratory testing or securing additional veterinary health clearances.

Five more LGUs—Borbon, Tabuelan, Tabogon, San Remigio and Barili—have submitted the required blood samples and are awaiting approval for their RAS-ASF certification.

The provincial campaign comes as Cebu City strengthens its safeguards against ASF following its first confirmed case in Barangay Quiot.

Earlier, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. signed a supplemental executive order on Aug. 3 to strengthen border inspections, disease surveillance and enforcement of existing ASF-control measures.

The order supplements an earlier temporary ban on the entry and exit of live hogs, locally produced pork, pork products and swine by-products in Cebu City.

Authorities confirmed ASF in nine pigs from a backyard herd in Barangay Quiot and depopulated the remaining animals to prevent further transmission.(MyTVCebu)