At least four towns in Cotabato have recorded new cases of African Swine Fever (ASF).

The provincial government has confirmed that ASF cases were recorded in Barangay Poblacion and Magsaysay in Antipas; San Vicente, Makilala; Barangay Idaoman and Poblacion in President Roxas; and Barangay Malagakit and New Panay in Pigcawayan.

This is based on the result of the laboratory tests conducted by authorities.

Authorities also warned the neighboring municipalities to prevent the spread of ASF.

During a consultative meeting with town mayors and different city and municipal agriculturists, some recommendations were made to prevent the spread of ASF.

These include the suspension of movement of pigs within the five-kilometer radius from “ground zero” or its current location and prohibition of slaughtering, selling, and transfer of live pigs, pork meat, and other pork products within the 500-meter radius from “ground zero.”

Information education campaign will also be conducted, and monitoring and surveillance will be intensified.

The Veterinary Quarantine Service Centers of the province will also implement strict border control at checkpoints.

“Consider ASF a serious issue with significant implications for both our swine industry and the broader agricultural sector. We need to act immediately to address this crisis,” Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, said.

The governor also directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to form a Provincial Area Command Team (ACT) that will serve as ‘overseer’ of the Incident Management Teams (IMTs) created in different towns to address the threat of ASF.