CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PNA) – The province of Bataan was placed under a state of calamity due to an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The declaration was provided in a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bataan and was approved by Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia III on July 9. Garcia said the move was to give immediate and long-term solutions to cases of ASF, hitting some 25 percent of hog farms in the province. Through the declaration of the state of calamity, the governor said they can give appropriate support to the affected hog farms in the province while at the same time avoiding an increase in the prices of commodities. “Bukod sa pinag-ibayong pagbibigay ng assistance sa mga local hog raisers, layunin din ng hakbanging ito na mapigilan ang pagpasok sa Bataan ng mga apektadong baboy o karne upang maprotektahan ang 75 porsiyento na hindi pa naapektuhang babuyan sa ating probinsya (Aside from providing assistance to the local hog raisers, the move aims to control the entry of the affected pigs or meat into Bataan to protect the 75 percent of piggeries in the the province not yet affected),” he said in statement on Tuesday, July 11. Based on the report, as of Sunday, July 9, there were 333 pigs from 17 registered backyard hog raisers in the province that are ASF-positive. Some 287 pigs, on the other hand, underwent ASF testing, and the results are still being awaited. A report from the Bataan Provincial Veterinary Office as of July 4 showed that five municipalities in the province were affected by ASF – Hermosa, Morong, Orion, Pilar, and Samal. Meanwhile, the governor assured the public that pork in the market and other accredited hog meat outlets are safe after passing rigid inspection. “Pinapayuhan po ang ating mga mamimili na huwag mag-panic o matakot dahil ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan ang lahat ng paraan upang mabigyan ng solusyon ang problema ng ASF (We are advising our consumers not to panic or be scared because our government is implementing measures to find solutions to the ASF problem),” he added. With the declaration of a state of calamity, the Bataan provincial government can use part of its quick response fund to curb the spread of ASF in the province.