March 28, 2023

 

Cebu, Philippines governor opposes culling of pigs over ASF concerns

 

 

 

The Governor of Cebu, the Philippines, Gwendolyn Garcia, reiterated on March 27 an earlier call on the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to forego the culling of pigs suspected of having been infected with the African swine fever (ASF) virus.

 

In a press conference, Garcia cited the negative effect on the local supply of pork should the agency continue its culling policy on pigs that fall within the 500-meter radius.

 

Garcia maintained that there is no ASF outbreak in Cebu as the infection was only reported in six out of 53 localities in the island province.

 

The governor's statement came as BAI announced on March 20 that they detected ASF in Cebu City and the towns of Tuburan, Sibonga, Liloan and Bogo City, in addition to Carcar City where the deadly virus afflicting pigs was first discovered on March 1.

 

She said the provincial government will exert all efforts to save the local hog industry and protect the consumers from the effect of a shortage of pork if culling is pursued even in pigs that have not displayed clinical signs of the viral disease.

 

"So you continue to kill these pigs, you continue to reduce our local supply, and, in effect, kill our local hog industry in exchange for imported meat," Garcia said.

 

The governor said she suspected a classical swine fever (CSF) inflicted on the pigs in Cebu, adding that although this disease is endemic in Asia, it can be prevented through the anti-hog cholera vaccine.

 

Lawyer Donato Villar Jr., the capitol's legal officer, said they recently went to Carcar City to gather sworn statements from backyard hog raisers who are opposed to the culling policy.

 

Villar said many of the piggeries in Cebu have become a source of livelihood for the Cebuanos.

 

Meanwhile, Garcia released a memo addressed to mayors, directing them to form the Barangay Swine Fever Task Force as a way to combat ASF in villages.

- Philippine News Agency