ILOILO CITY -- Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province clarified that there’s no total ban of hog movement amid reports of a suspected case of African Swine Fever (ASF).
“That is not true. That should not have been released,” Defensor told members of Iloilo Provincial Press Corps on Friday, Oct. 14.
Online reports (not Manila Bulletin) had it that the Western Visayas Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council has banned ‘the movement of hogs in and out of the region, and orders containment measures within a 50-km radius of Oton town, Iloilo, where some hogs are infected with African Swine Fever.’
Defensor explained that the Western Visayas Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council is only an advisory council and is not the official stand of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“We should wait for the DA's announcement,” added Defensor.
However, DA’s Western Visayas regional office has been mum as it cannot issue any statement as there’s a new memorandum order that there must be clearance from DA’s Central Office in Manila.
“Whether there’s positive ASF or not, there’s no total ban as there is zoning,” added Defensor.
Initially, six hogs died from a semi-commercial hog farm in Oton town.
As a precautionary measure, the Iloilo Provincial Veterinarian’s Office and the local government of Oton conducted depopulation.
The remaining 305 hogs were killed at the same hog farm.
“Even the pigs that were not sick were killed just to be sure,” disclosed Defensor.