Following reported cases of African Swine Fever in the Western Visayas region, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered Agriculture officials to ramp up their efforts in controlling its spread among hogs.

On the sidelines of the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City over the weekend, the President ordered the Department of Agriculture regional office in Western Visayas to test all pig breeding sites in the region to curb the spread of the ASF.

Malacañang said the directive came after the DA-6 reported that cases of ASF had been reported in the area, particularly in Iloilo during a situation briefing.

The regional office assured the President that all measures to prevent the spread of ASF are already in place, including banning pork products from infested areas.

The President stressed that testing all breeding farms for ASF is one of the most effective ways of controlling the spread of infection.

Marcos also cited studies that show the possibility of mosquitoes being involved in the further transmission of ASF.

Iloilo and the whole Western Visayas region had previously been among the last few areas in the country that had remained ASF-free since the first reported outbreak in July 2019.

Last week, the Sangguniang Bayan of Oton in Iloilo province placed the municipality under a state of calamity due to the spread of ASF in 10 of the town's 37 villages.

The municipality has 1,642 hog raisers with an 11,500 hog inventory, according to the Philippine News Agency.

In addition, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has issued a directive to tighten measures and contain the spread of ASF in the province.

He issued Executive Order 460, series of 2022, stating the implementation of quarantine procedures, disease prevention, and control measures for ASF in the province.

It will take effect from 17 to 27 October and will be extended if necessary.