20 of 26 barangays in Lobo, Batangas hit by ASF outbreak

Twenty out of 26 barangays have been affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) in Lobo, Batangas, said the town’s vice mayor on Thursday.

“Medyo malaki na ho (ang apektado), out of 26 na barangay, ay baka anim na barangay na lang po ang hindi contaminated,”  Vice Mayor Jurly Manalo said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

“Ang kuwenta namin, as of yesterday, more than 12,000 baboy na ang namatay,” he added.

(The affected area is large, out of 26 barangays, we might only have six uncontaminated barangays.

By our count, as of yesterday, more than 12,000 pigs have died.)

Manalo said their province has yet to receive assistance from the national government, so it has declared a state of calamity in order to use its calamity fund as the threat of ASF has already resulted in P103 million worth of damages.

Apart from the local government's restriction on the entry of hog traders into the province, a vaccine is also being prepared by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“Siguro within this week dumating na (ASF vaccine),” he said.

(We are expecting the ASF vaccine tol arrive this week.)

Meanwhile, regarding reports that the outbreak was possibly due to rain and flood, the vice mayor said there was neither rain nor flood since the pigs died and were buried.

“Walang baha, walang bagyo buhat ng namatay ang mga baboy dito,” he said.

(There were no floods, no typhoons since the pigs started dying.)

“Ang balita namin, mula ng may mga dumating na mga baboy dito, alam niyo yung mga bulugan? Nagpapa-lahi, doon nanggaling so dumami ng dumami,” he added.

(We heard that since pigs arrived here, to breed, that's where (ASF came from) so it spread.)

Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. said they have coordinated with the Philippine National Police, local government units, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to establish checkpoints to prevent infected hogs from leaving the town.

Mass testing will also be conducted in the area.

The DA head assured that ASF-infected pork is safe to eat as long as it is properly prepared and cooked. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News