More hog raisers report losses due to ASF

MORE HOG raisers reported losses due to the African swine fever (ASF) in Zamboanga City as the local government continues to battle the spread of the virus which is fatal to pigs.

The Office of the City Veterinarian said at least 23 hog raisers were affected by the ASF, adding since the outbreak began two months ago. It said nearly 500 pigs had been culled since then to help prevent the spread of the contagious animal disease. 

The disease has been reported in the villages of Pasonanca, Mangusu, Bunguiao, Curuan, Manicahan, Vitali, Dulian, Tumaga, Lumayang, San Roque, and Sibulao. Manicahan, San Roque and Curuan have the highest pig mortality.

 

City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola said it is still safe to eat pork as long as it is cooked well, adding the ASF virus only affects pigs. 

Pig raisers and meat vendors have reported a decrease in sales due to the public fear of the African swine fever which eventually pushed further the prices of dressed chicken and poultry products. 

Before the outbreak of the African swine fever, prices of pork was at P270 a kilo and today, a kilo of meat is priced at over P300. Dressed chicken now sells at P210 a kilo from P180 in previous months. The price of roasted pig is now P600 a kilo from P500 last year, and P480 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Arriola said the local government has implemented strong measures to ensure the virus causing the African swine fever will not spread to other villages.

The Bureau of Animal Industry has placed Zamboanga City under so-called “Red Zone” category meaning hog and pork products from here cannot be shipped out or transported to other places. 

Arriola said upon the order of Mayor Beng Climaco, they activated a task force which shall oversee the efforts in controlling the spread of the African swine fever. He said additional quarantine stations were put up in various villages to ensure no infected hogs are transported from areas affected by the African swine fever. 

He said as part of the guidelines regulating the transfer and movement of pork products, only those with veterinary certificates and meat inspection certifications shall be allowed to pass the quarantine checkpoints, particularly in the village of Limpapa which borders Zamboanga del Norte province, and in Licomo village bordering Zamboanga Sibugay province. 

Arriola noted that border control will be particularly strict on returning residents, especially those who carry pork products whether they are cooked or not. “We are very strict on bringing pork products from Manila or Davao, especially meats, because Davao and Luzon areas are also under the Red Zone,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)