2 Cordillera Towns Ban Pork, Live Hogs Amid ASF Scare

Two municipalities in Mountain Province, Philippines, have implemented bans on the entry and transport of live hogs, pork, and pork products to safeguard their local swine industry from the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF). Barlig municipality began enforcing its ban on July 13, prohibiting the entry, transit, transport, purchase, and sale of live pigs and pork products originating from the neighboring town of Natonin and other ASF-affected areas. A similar measure is in effect in Bontoc, the capital town, which bans the entry, transport, and sale of live hogs and pork products coming from Sagada as part of heightened biosecurity measures against ASF. Residents, traders, transporters, and hog raisers have been urged to strictly comply with these prohibitions. While ASF does not infect humans and properly cooked pork remains safe for consumption, the disease is highly contagious among pigs and has caused significant economic losses to backyard hog raisers and the country's swine industry. This action highlights the critical importance of livestock biosecurity measures, particularly in rural areas, amidst ongoing ASF detections within the Philippines. The Philippine government has been working on enhancing quarantine measures and developing vaccines to combat ASF, though the country's geographical characteristics and the prevalence of small-scale farming present challenges to mitigation efforts.