Over 300,000 pigs culled due to ASF; 20 new outbreaks recorded

The number of pigs culled breached 300,000 marks as African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread in the country amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The quarantine restrictions which limited the movement of hogs did not stop the disease from spreading and continue to kill pigs nationwide.

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The Philippines said in its 10th follow-up report to the World Organization for Animal Health that 20 new outbreaks had been recorded, and 10,543 additional culled pigs have been added to the list.

The number of hogs culled since the outbreak started in August 2019 is now 309,387.

Meanwhile, the latest data from the government, there are 4,711 cases of ASF in the Philippines.

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Of the 20 new outbreaks, the highest number of culled pigs is in Malasiqui in Pangasinan with 3,018, followed by San Carlos City with 1,933, and Pamplona in Camarines Sur with 1,170.

The report, however, no new province has been added to ASF-affected areas.

Also read: 900 ASF infected pigs culled in Bulacan

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New ASF outbreaks were recorded in Tanay and Antipolo City in Rizal, while Botolan in Zambales reported 336 new ASF related hog deaths.

There were also new cases in Calasiao, Alaminos City, Anda and Bolinao in Pangasinan.

Los Baños in Laguna, Pinagbayanan in Quezon, and Sto. Tomas in La Union recorded more cases.

Further up north, Isabela had new cases in Ramon, while Ifugao saw new cases in Banaue and Haliap.

Meanwhile, in the Bicol region, Camarines Sur recorded new ASF cases in Naga City, San Fernando, Canaman, and Gainza.

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the government already released P733 million under its quick response fund to indemnify ASF-affected hog raisers.

The DA also earmarked an initial P400 million to restock hogs and start repopulating the swine industry.

“I want to give focus on that, so we immediately mobilized our funds and released P200 million each to Calabarzon and Central Luzon for restocking for hog raising,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

“We will be giving out piglets, and our priority is community cooperatives followed by backyard hog raisers,” he said.

Big commercial farms could also avail loan funds with low-interest rates as an incentive to restocking the swine industry, the DA added.