Last week, the DA revealed that the ASF virus has reached three areas in Quezon City: Barangay Bagong Silangan, Payatas and Barangay Tatalon. #ASF #AfricanSwineFever

The DA said they are closely monitoring the whole of Luzon to prevent the virus from causing further damage to the P260-billion swine industry.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) neither confirmed nor denied an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City as the local government reportedly started culling pigs in the village.

In an interview on Monday afternoon, DA Spokesperson Noel Reyes said they are currently waiting for Agriculture Secretary William Dar to make the announcement.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte over the weekend said the local government has started culling pigs in Tandang Sora as preemptive measure after several hogs showed symptoms of ASF.

“We observed that several of the pigs have already been dying and they have been displaying symptoms of ASF. So, (the barangay captain) took the initiative to talk to piggery owners and they were very willing to submit their pigs for culling already as a preemptive measure,” Belmonte disclosed.

Belmonte said the Quezon City Veterinary Office has already taken blood samples of hogs in the area but laboratory test results have yet to be released.

Following the 1-7-10 protocol, the local government has also depopulated the neighboring areas even without the confirmation of the ASF virus yet.

Last week, the DA revealed that the ASF virus has reached three areas in Quezon City: Barangay Bagong Silangan, Payatas and Barangay Tatalon.

In the city alone, about 5,000 pigs have died or been culled.

As of writing, the ASF virus was detected in 17 areas in the country and about 20,000 pigs out of the 12.8 million hog inventory nationwide have been culled.

Since the DA confirmed the first ASF outbreak in the country last month, the government has already released P82.5 million for ASF prevention.

To compensate hog growers who will be forced to surrender their animals for culling, the DA has also earmarked P60 million.

Last week, the agriculture department said it also activated another P1 billion indemnification fund for hog raisers.

The ASF virus is a disease among hogs but it can be spread locally by humans.

The presence of the dreaded virus in the country has prompted provinces like Davao and Cebu to impose stricter measures in shipping local meat products, especially from Luzon.

The DA said they are closely monitoring the whole of Luzon to prevent the virus from causing further damage to the P260-billion swine industry.