DA confirms ASF, plans culling of up to 300 pigs at Iligan village

ILIGAN CITY—The Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed the spread of African swine fever at a remote village here.

Carlene Collado, DA regional director, specimen taken from pigs at the village of Pugaan tested positive for ASF virus.

Collado said the DA is now coordinating with the regional ASF task force and city government to keep the virus from spreading by culling all pigs at the village and isolating the place.

The DA, according to Collado, will indemnify growers P5,000 per culled pig plus an unspecified amount from the city government.

Collado said the DA was appealing to people to “respect and step on the foot bath” in animal quarantine stations and cease bringing in any pork and pork products from areas with known ASF cases.

He also urged online sellers of food products which have pork as main ingredient, like dumplings and sausages, to determine the origin of their products first and secure business permits from local governments before selling.

Collado urged backyard hog raisers to stop feeding their pigs with swill, or leftover food.

The city information office said at least 300 pigs at the village of Pugaan had been infected with ASF virus, which are deadly to pigs.

TSB