Quezon City checkpoint stops entry of ASF-infected hogs

MANILA, Philippines — An animal quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City intercepted the entry of about 70 hogs that were later found to be infected with African Swine Fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday.

The agency’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) confiscated the said hogs intercepted at the Mindanao Ave. checkpoint, according to Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Dr. Constante Palabrica.

“This operation is critical in stopping the ‘ping pong’ movement of the ASF virus between the northern and southern regions of the country,” Palabrica said in a statement.

The shipment is scheduled for condemnation this Friday, according to the official.

Since August, Palabrica said the BAI has intercepted nearly 500 ASF-infected pigs nationwide.

Provinces known for swine production, such as Ilocos, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Cagayan, are under close monitoring to prevent the further spread of ASF.

To prevent its spread, DA chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency is targeting to finish the procurement of 600,000 ASF vaccines by the end of the year.

Once the ASF vaccines have been fully rolled out, the DA said it will focus on repopulating hogs to regain the previous record of 14 million heads, which decreased to 7.5 million based on the DA’s latest estimates. —Stefani Tacugue, INQUIRER.net trainee