Former Bohol Governor Atty. Art Yap has expressed his deep concern and sadness
over the reported African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Bohol, which he said could
threaten the livelihood of thousands of hog growers in the province.
“This is a serious threat to our hog industry, which is a major source of livelihood for
many Boholanos,” Yap said in a statement. “I urge the provincial government and the
national government to take immediate action to control the outbreak and prevent it
from spreading further.”
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs. It is not harmful to humans,
but it can cause severe economic losses to hog farmers.
The disease has been spreading rapidly in the Philippines in recent months, and Bohol
is one of the latest provinces to be affected.
Yap, a former Agriculture Secretary in the country, said that the provincial government
should immediately implement stricter biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the
disease.
Yap was governor of Bohol from 2019 – 2022 when he imposed tight border control
against spread of ASF. During his administration, Bohol was able to maintain its status
as truly ASF-free, saving the livelihood of thousands of hog growers.
Meanwhile, Atty. Yap also called on the national government to provide financial
assistance to affected hog farmers.
“We need to act now to prevent this outbreak from devastating our hog industry,” Yap
said. “The livelihood of thousands of Boholanos is at stake.”
The ASF outbreak is a major setback for Bohol’s hog industry, which is worth an
estimated P6 billion, Yap said.
The province is a major producer of pork, and the outbreak could lead to a shortage of
pork in the market, he noted.
The provincial government has already imposed a ban on the movement of pigs and
pork products in Bohol. It has also set up checkpoints to prevent the entry of infected
pigs into the province.
Reports have indicated that the national government would release a P100-million
assistance package for affected hog farmers in Bohol. The package includes financial
assistance, veterinary services, and the provision of feed and medication.
The ASF outbreak is a serious challenge for Bohol’s hog industry, Yap noted.
“However, with the cooperation of the provincial and national governments, and the
support of the hog farmers, it is possible to control the outbreak and prevent it from
spreading further,” the former Congressman of the Third District added.
On the same vein, Yap suggested what a governor should do in case of an ASF
outbreak: 1) convene the mayors and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor
and regulate the movement of hogs and carcasses; 2) preside over the culling of
infected and exposed pigs; and 3) provide adequate compensation to farmers who have
to depopulate their stocks.
He said that these measures are crucial to prevent the virus from spreading to other
areas and to protect the P6-billion hog industry in Bohol, which employs about 30,000
people.
He expressed dismay over the news that provincial officials were reportedly hiding the
truth about the ASF outbreak in Bohol.
“If true, the effort to obfuscate facts is criminal. Hiding the truth in these circumstances
is criminal. Then this is aggravated by the sheer negligence of doing nothing. That is
more criminal,” Yap pointed out.
He added that he was saddened by the fact that nobody knows what to do and
everything is business as usual.
“Neglect of duty means a failure to perform a duty or responsibility required of a
position,” he said.
He urged the provincial government to act swiftly and decisively to contain the ASF
outbreak and to assist the affected farmers.
“The question must be asked: who knew what? When? And what was done about it?
Because unless we know how can we prevent this from happening again. Also what are
we doing to contain it now? There are big hog populations in Carmen, Sierra Bullones
and all over central Bohol,” he said.
On the other hand, the ASF outbreak in Bohol has prompted neighboring Cebu province
to impose a 60-day ban on the entry of live hogs, pork, and pork-related products from
Bohol.
Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz, Bohol provincial veterinarian, confirmed that some 80 hogs,
including piglets, in Purok 6, Barangay San Vicente, Pilar tested positive for ASF.
She said that the infected pigs were within the 100-meter radius index premise and that
hogs within the quarantine area from 500-radius to one-kilometer radius tested negative
of ASF which means the virus has yet to spread.
She also said that the province has intensified its disease monitoring and surveillance to
prevent ASF from spreading to other areas.
ASF FREE?
The province of Bohol has maintained its status as an African Swine Fever (ASF)-Free
zone despite the recent outbreak of the disease in one of its towns.
The municipality of Pilar, where some pigs tested positive for ASF last month, has also
managed to contain the virus and prevent it from spreading to other areas, according to
Provincial Administrator Aster Caberte.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), ASF is a highly contagious and fatal
disease that affects domestic and wild pigs.
It can cause severe economic losses to the swine industry and pose a threat to food
security.
There is no vaccine or treatment for ASF, and the only way to control it is by
implementing strict biosecurity measures and culling infected animals.
The first case of ASF in Bohol was detected on July 25, 2023, when some pigs in Purok
6, Barangay San Vicente, Pilar died and their blood samples tested positive for the
virus.
The DA-Regional Office No. 7 confirmed the results and informed the Provincial
Government of Bohol and the Municipal Government of Pilar about the situation.
Governor Aumentado immediately issued Executive Order No. 41, declaring Purok 6 as
an “ASF Infected Premises” and imposing a lockdown on the area.