ILOILO CITY – Antique is the only province in Western Visayas region that has no African Swine Fever (ASF) cases. DR. Jonic Natividad, focal person of the Department of Agriculture for African Swine Fever, talks to hog raisers in Sibalom town, Antique province.  (DA-6 PIO) To maintain this status, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is beefing up its coordination and partnership with the Antique provincial government through the Antique Provincial Veterinary Office and various hog farmers across the province. “These checkpoints have been established in the municipalities of Pandan and Libertad in the northern part and Hamtic and Anini-y in the south. They aim to rigorously screen and prevent hogs, pork, or pork-based products from ASF-affected areas from entering Antique,” said Dr. Jonic Natividad, DA-6 focal person on ASF. The DA-6 gathered hog raisers of Sibalom town, which is one of the region’s key areas for backyard hog raising.  Sibalom transports 60 to 80 hogs per week outside of Antique province. Members of the Sibalom Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association (SILPRA) were urged to implement robust biosecurity measures. “These include using protective gear, disinfection protocols such as agricultural lime in footbaths, and strict control over access by individuals who may unknowingly carry the disease,” said Natividad. The first case of ASF in Western Visayas region was recorded in Iloilo province last year. Then it spread to Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan, and Negros Occidental provinces.