A motion was recently proposed to declare Batangas in a state of calamity due to the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province. Batangas is considered one of the top swine producers in the country, however, the supply chain could be curtailed as a repercussion of the ongoing ASF outbreak. 

The 1HEALTH Project of the School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB), a country-wide initiative to enhance and complement disease surveillance and management strategies using the One Health approach, arranged an interview with the Provincial Veterinary Office of Batangas (PVO Batangas) to discuss the current situation of ASF-affected municipalities. The project, led by Dr. Yusuf A. Sucol, met with Dr. Rommelito R. Marasigan, Provincial Veterinarian, and Dr. Krisel Ann M. Ragas, PVO Regulatory Division Head, to exchange dialogues regarding PVO’s disease outbreak investigation, mitigation, and control measures as well as indemnification for affected farmers. 

^{Dr. Rommelito R. Marasigan, Provincial Veterinarian, and Dr. Krisel Ann M. Ragas, PVO Regulatory Division Head sharing information regarding PVO Batangas’ ongoing efforts to contain the ASF outbreaks in the province.}

According to the initial investigation, Lobo was the first municipality to report swine deaths in July 2024. Dr. Marasigan noted that Lobo is not classified as a high-risk area since it has no prior history of ASF. However, backyard farmers asked the PVO to conduct ASF testing after noticing signs and symptoms in their swine. The Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) Region IV-A confirmed that the submitted samples were positive for ASF based on the laboratory results. 

Assessment of ASF Spread and Economic Losses 

The ASF task force – comprised of PVO Batangas, municipal veterinarians, local government units (LGU), and officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), among others – launched an extensive investigation and surveillance operation within a 500-meter radius of the affected backyard farms in Lobo. They implemented a “test-and-destroy” policy for positive cases to control disease spread. Depopulation continued in the municipality until additional ASF cases were confirmed around the broader area of Lobo. There were 19 reported positive cases out of the 26 barangays in Lobo. In such cases, Dr. Ragas explained that each municipality has the authority to choose the method for depopulation. In ASF-positive areas, there are two options: 1) if a farm tests positive for ASF, all swine will be culled, or 2) only the swine that test positive will be culled, while those testing negative will be slaughtered for meat consumption and undergo inspection. The selected method must be agreed upon by both the local government and the affected communities, considering the density of swine operations in the area.

Based on the report of PVO Batangas, identified backyard farms and a commercial farm in the municipalities of Lian, Lipa, San Juan, Tuy, Calatagan, Talisay, and Rosario were tested positive for ASF. Dr. Ragas and Dr. Marasigan clarified that there is no blanket ban on transporting live or meat stocks within the municipalities. However, transportation is only allowed between areas under the same zoning status (e.g., pink-pink and yellow-yellow zones).

The ongoing ASF outbreak has severely affected the swine industry in Batangas, with losses amounting to about PhP33B based on the total number of depopulated swine. Furthermore, the projected damage caused by ASF in Batangas will be around 13 billion pesos on top of the prior losses.

Factors Contributing to the Rapid ASF Transmission

When asked about the cause of ASF in Lobo, Dr. Marasigan shared that the rapid spread can be linked to several factors. A key issue is the level of cooperation among smallholder swine farmers, local government officials, and the ASF task force. Some farmers reported symptoms late or not at all, and there has been resistance to investigations when municipal veterinarians and livestock inspectors visited farms. In some cases, delays in reporting occurred at the barangay level, often due to the collective fear of massive pig depopulation and impending economic losses within the community. Additionally, some farms have been sharing a single certificate of disease-free status without proper documentation or individual verification, further complicating efforts to control and monitor ASF outbreaks on a large scale. 

Dr. Marasigan also pointed out the significant environmental factors that may have contributed to the spread of ASFV in Lobo. Before the outbreak, Lobo, which is located in a catch basin area, experienced heavy rainfall and flooding due to the Southwest monsoon worsened by the effects of Typhoon Carina in the following weeks. This flooding could have aided in the environmental spread of the virus, exacerbated by some farmers’ improper disposal of ASF-infected pig carcasses. Dr. Ragas emphasized that proper burial protocols require carcasses to be buried at least six (6) feet deep to prevent further contamination. However, delays experienced by the PVO in securing appropriate burial sites for pig carcasses have made the situation more challenging. Without designated burial sites, the culling and depopulation processes face significant difficulties. Consequently, affected swine may die in their pens, forcing backyard farmers to handle the burial of carcasses by themselves, often bypassing proper procedures.

Additionally, there are concerns that infected pig stocks might have been transported into the municipality, especially given Lobo’s coastal location. The lack of regulation and inspection at seaports meant that live animals were transported without permanent checkpoints, potentially exacerbating the outbreak. Coastguards have reported that they often rely on the public to report suspected cases, underscoring a gap in active surveillance. While there were suspicions that the virus might have originated from nearby municipalities such as Rosario, San Juan, and Batangas City, there is no conclusive evidence yet to substantiate these claims.

Preventive Measures and Operational Challenges

The PVO is crucial in crisis management and support, but the primary responsibility for action lies with the municipalities. The PVO augments the municipalities’ capacity to handle outbreaks and steps in only when specific municipalities are unable to manage the crisis.

In response to the ASF outbreak, prompt action from the local government is a priority. Once an ASF case is confirmed, a meeting is convened by the ASF task force which focuses on the strategic planning for continued surveillance within the 500-meter radius of affected areas, as well as mitigation measures such as culling and depopulation, disinfecting vacant backyard farms, and sentinelling programs.

Following the mitigation process, efforts are made to find suitable vacant land for burying the carcasses of pigs that died from ASF. This presents a major challenge for the PVO, as many areas are privately owned, and identified burial sites must remain unused for many years. Incineration is not a viable option due to the high density of affected farms and the resources needed for disposal. The PVO also faces resource limitations, such as heavy equipment and manpower in preparation for the burial sites. Dr. Marasigan emphasized that they continuously seek support and commitment from other government agencies, as addressing the outbreak is a shared responsibility.

Livestock that have tested negative for ASF can be safely transported and consumed, including delivery to Metro Manila, which has a low swine density. Commercial farms can transport their pigs as long as their area is certified ASF-free. However, backyard farms cannot obtain ASF-free status because the Recognition of Active Surveillance (RAS) for ASF is currently suspended.

Despite the severe impact on backyard swine farms, it is important to understand that ASF cannot be transmitted to humans and is not airborne. However, there are risks associated with ticks, which can serve as vectors, and contaminated surfaces. Consumers should therefore be cautious. To reduce these risks, purchasing meat from accredited slaughterhouses or reputable meat shops is advisable, ensuring that the pork products undergo strict safety and hygiene standards.

Support for Local Swine Producers

Only farmers who reported symptoms leading to confirmed ASF cases and allowed officials to visit their farms are eligible for indemnification from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) and the national government. In some cases, additional assistance may come from other calamity funds to help mitigate damages.

Indemnification will be provided for each culled swine. Based on previous indemnification, the government paid  Php 15,000 for boars, Php 5,000 for growers, and Php 3,000 for native pigs. While some farmers affected by ASF have opted to pursue other sources of income, others continue to permit surveillance and inspections in the hope of eventually returning to pig farming. These efforts are intended to control the virus’s spread. However, farmers who do not report swine deaths risk losing their indemnification subsidies.

Support from the private industries has been invaluable as well, donating essential resources like power sprayers and disinfection materials to the PVO. This assistance is greatly appreciated by the office and is crucial in managing and controlling the ASF outbreak.

Future Preparedness

PVO Batangas has considered risk mitigation strategies to prevent future outbreaks, including geotagging livestock to improve tracking of animal populations and their locations within municipalities. This system is already in use in areas near Taal Volcano. The project is initiated by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

Dr. Ragas mentioned that they are currently developing a contingency plan for ASF and Avian Influenza (AI). Another risk mitigation strategy involves reinforcing regular surveillance systems and animal checkpoints; there are 17 checkpoints throughout Batangas to prevent the unauthorized or unregulated entry of live swine and pork products that may be infected with ASF.

Moreover, the ‘Bantay ASF sa Barangay Program’ is a community-based risk mitigation strategy focused on disease surveillance and management. It aims to strengthen the biosecurity of smallholder farms, raise ASF awareness among swine raisers, and support sustainable livelihoods and food security. Information and education campaigns are actively promoted with support from NGOs and private stakeholders through the development of audio-visual materials to help veterinarians and LGUs share crucial information on ASF. 

^{Power sprayers and disinfection materials donated by private companies to PVO Batangas.}

Currently, there is no accredited vaccine or antigen test kit for ASF in the Philippines, as neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) has approved such products. Although DA-BAI has announced plans to distribute 10,000 imported ASF vaccines, these will be allocated exclusively to the red-zone areas. However, there are concerns that this vaccine supply may not be adequate to meet the needs of Batangas.

In areas that have previously experienced ASF outbreaks, mitigation efforts such as exit protocols and sentinelling have taken up to a year and a half. There is cautious optimism that, over time, smallholder farmers will be able to restock and return to swine farming. The recovery will depend significantly on the continuous cooperation and collaboration between local governments and swine raisers.

As of August 2024, DA-BAI has reported a significant increase in ASF cases across the country, affecting 11 regions, 22 provinces, and 64 municipalities. The surge in cases has caused local swine raisers to panic, leading them to impulsively sell their swine stocks to middlemen or traveling merchants. In one instance, DA-BAI intercepted two trucks in Quezon City transporting hogs, with pigs from the first truck testing positive for ASF and those from the second truck showing visible signs of the disease. These trucks, originating from Sariaya, Quezon, were en route to Pangasinan. The pigs were culled and buried by the authorities. In anticipation of the La Niña phenomenon, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flooding, government agencies are implementing control and mitigation measures to prevent the further spread of ASF to unaffected areas. PAGASA has indicated that La Niña is expected to begin between mid-September and November. (ALAfable and CMBSantos)