April 9, 2025 

           
'Pork holiday' declared in Borongan, Eastern Samar, Philippines, to control ASF

The city government of Borongan in Eastern Samar province, the Philippines, has declared a 15-day pork holiday to stop the spread of African swine fever (ASF).

This came after three samples collected from the pig farm owned by the Eastern Samar State University in Maypangdan village, tested positive for the virus.

Under an executive order issued on April 4, the local government suspended certain pork-related activities until April 18, while checkpoints have been set up at the northern and southern borders following the detection of ASF cases.

In a statement on April 7, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said that except for personal consumption, slaughtering of pigs is prohibited.

"The public market, supermarkets, meat stalls in different villages, meat shops, and roasted pig shops are also not allowed to sell fresh pork and roasted pig during this period," he said, citing that sale and distribution of frozen, raw, and cooked pork chorizo and pork longganisa are also not allowed.

Those engaged in the distribution of frozen pork are permitted only if the seller presents a Certificate of Meat Inspection indicating that the pork was sourced from ASF-free areas as declared by the city veterinary office.

All pig farms are directed to implement and complete massive disinfection on their respective farms during the pork holiday to prevent further contamination. Transport or movement of live pigs from one village to another is also prohibited.

Meat inspectors, or livestock inspectors, are directed to intensify post-abattoir inspection activities with the assistance of law enforcement agencies.

Local authorities will confiscate unauthorised pork and pork products or revoke business permits of violators, who will also be meted with administrative fines as stipulated under the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

- PNA