ILOILO CITY – Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said he is eyeing a state of calamity declaration for Iloilo province to cushion the impact of the African Swine Fever (ASF) on hog industry and pork products trading.

“We might declare a state of calamity next week because two towns are already affected,” said Defensor in a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 27.
Defensor said the Iloilo provincial government is looking to source out from the Quick Response Fund to curb the spread of ASF, which has already affected the towns of Oton and San Miguel.
While both local government units (LGUs) of Oton and San Miguel have already declared separate states of calamity, the provincial government is preparing to declare the same as ASF may spread to more towns.
“We don’t have the data yet because the cases are ongoing,” Defensor explained.
Aside from live hogs, ASF can impact the selling and buying of pork and pork products in the 42 towns and component city of Passi.
Defensor is set to convene the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Iloilo PDRRMC) to recommend for a state of calamity declaration.
So far, Defensor has issued an executive order classifying zones for the containment of ASF and strong monitoring of transportation of live hogs and pork products.