TACLOBAN CITY - The municipality of Silago in Southern Leyte province is set to declare a state of calamity due to African Swine Fever outbreaks in at least three barangays.
Mayor Lemuel Honor said calamity funds will be used to assist hog raisers affected by the culling of their pigs.
He noted that the first ASF cases were logged two weeks ago, affecting hundreds of hogs in Barangays Laguma, Higatungan, and Imelda.
The local government unit has declared a pork holiday and movement restrictions on live and pork products.
The mayor surmised that ASF may have been transmitted through wild boars and septic tanks and canals that have not been disinfected.
He expressed concern that at least P7 million in losses by the pig industry are expected from the outbreak.