The municipality of Calatagan in Batangas has declared a state of calamity due to an increase in African Swine Fever (ASF) cases, joining Lobo, which made a similar declaration earlier.
This decision, made after a session of the Sangguniang Bayan, is expected to streamline the distribution of aid to local hog raisers facing the outbreak.
“Para po ma-cater ‘yung farmers na affected talaga para makapaglabas ng fund,” Dan Paul Badong, Calatagan’s Municipal Information Officer, said.
Lian, another town in Batangas, is also considering declaring a state of calamity.
The local government is currently conducting blood sampling on pigs to assess the situation further.
“Para din mayroon kaming makuhang pantustos doon sa mga kakailanganin sa baba at kung sakali pong mayroong suporta from province, kasi medyo malaki na rin ang sakop ng infestation doon sa amin, dalawang barangay pa laang,” Patricio Delos Reyes Jr., Lian’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management (LDRRM) Officer, said.
OVERVIEW
According to the Batangas Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, ASF has now affected seven towns in the province.
The latest addition is San Juan, where one barangay has reported positive cases. The areas affected are as follows:
- Lobo: 17 barangays
- Calatagan: 5 barangays
- Lian: 2 barangays
- Talisay: 2 barangays
- Rosario: 1 barangay
- Lipa City: 1 barangay
- San Juan: 1 barangay
HOG RAISERS
In the areas affected, several pigpens filled with hogs previously are now empty.
In Barangay Buhaynasapa, a pigpen that once housed ten fatteners and one pregnant sow has been left vacant due to the death of all animals, possibly due to ASF.
The owner of the pigpen noted that the first pig fell ill in July 2024, and within two days, the rest of the pigs also became sick and died.
Manolito Sanchez, a hog raiser, was surprised to find his native pigs affected, despite believing they had better resistance.
“Ako’y may alagang baboy na itim, pito ang anak; lahat nagkamamatay, nagkasakit, tumamlay at nagtae, walang natira,” Sanchez said.
“Tapos ako’y may alaga din dineng puti, siyam ang naging anak, ay tatalo din ang natira at nagkamamatay din ang lahat, ang ina ay namatay din. Aming ginamot, [pero] ay hindi naman gumaling, hindi na lang sila kumain,” Sanchez added.
The ASF outbreak has also affected local pork vendors.
Rodel Adan, who previously sold pork, is now selling fish in hopes of recovering his losses.
“Three weeks na akong hindi nakakapag-tinda ng karneng baboy dahil sobrang tumal, walang nabili, kaya magsasa-isda na lang muna,” Adan said.
The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian is also conducting blood sampling and rapid testing in municipalities not yet affected by the outbreak.
