DA clears Rodriguez, Rizal of ASF, says disease now ‘tapering down’

The African Swine Fever (ASF) epidemic is tapering off in country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday, noting that the town of Rodriguez in Rizal has technically been cleared of the deadly disease.

Tests for the virus in Rodriguez, Rizal have yielded negative results in the last three months, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a press conference.

“The occurrence, the outbreak is now tapering down, it’s decreasing. So it’s a good pangitain na bumababa ‘yung occurrence ng outbreak,” he told reporters in Quezon City.

The economic losses due to the ASF have been estimated at P1 billion a month since outbreaks were reported in August, or a total of P4 billion, Dar noted.

“Ang estimate namin, kami na nag nag-estimate at nag-study, P1 billion. Ang report ay mid-August, so apat na buwan na,” he said.

“Four billion pesos, pero ang development nga bumababa na ‘yung outbreak. So nagpi-pick up na rin (‘yung containment measures). So tumataas na ‘yung confidence at negosyso ay bumabalik.

Pigs in the Philippines were found positive of ASF last August, the DA confirmed and blamed the outbreak mainly on imports from China and the practice of swill feeding.

A recent report by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) showed 97% of the reported losses in Asia due to the ASF were recorded in the Philippines. The report covered the period August 30 to September 12.

Dar clarified, however, that while Rodriguez, Rizal has been cleared, several areas in the country remain positive of ASF.

“Wala kaming sinasabi na tapos na ang ASF, contained na ang ASF. Let’s not make that a message, kasi andiyan. ‘Yung Rodriguez, wala na as per our monitoring. Klaro ‘yun,” he said.

At present, Bulacan and Pampanga remain as infected zones.

“Ito ‘yung red na red and can only send their pork products in other infected zones as well. Within those two provinces ‘yun lang ang movement,” Dar noted.

According to the DA:

• Regions 3 and 4A are now categorized as surveillance zones

• Regions 1, 2, and 5 are protected zones

• Visayas, Mindanao, and MIMAROPA are ASF free zones.

The government has approved the release of over P1 billion to help hog farmers affected by the ASF outbreaks.

“While gusto natin bayaran agad ‘yung ki-null out natin ay wala pa sa amin ‘yung pera. So nakikiusap kami doon na konting tiis lang. Approved naman in general 'yung budget. ‘Yung release naman ang hindi pa,” he said. —VDS, GMA News