ILOILO CITY-Western Visayas has initiated a significant step toward recovery from the African swine fever (ASF) with the introduction of a sentinelling program spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture. The program commenced in the municipality of Oton:estern Visayas has initiated a significant step toward recovery from the African swine fever (ASF) with the introduction of a sentinelling program spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture. The program commenced in the municipality of Oton, marking a new phase in combatting the ASF impact in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the sentinelling initiative began with the dispersal of piglets to local farmers on October 4. Iloilo Provincial Veterinarian IV Wendy Degillo highlighted that Oton was the first among Western Visayas to receive the piglets, benefiting 225 farmers initially. “Last Friday, they distributed 73 piglets across five barangays,” Degillo stated, referring to the communities of Mambog, Bita Sur, Bita Norte, Caboloan Norte, an
d Caboloan Sur.
Each of the farmer-beneficiaries is entitled to three piglets. However, only one piglet per farmer was distributed initially, with the remaining two to be delivered once the initial batch tests negative for ASF. Degillo stressed the importance of biosecurity measures, noting that all recipients must adhere to biosecurity level 1 protocols. “They have been oriented about it; it’s now up to them how they put it into practice,” she explained.
The recovery program involves strict health and safety measures, including thorough disinfection of pigpens and environmental swabbing to ensure areas are free of the virus before piglet dispersal. Additionally, the piglets underwent testing to confirm they were ASF-free before being handed to the farmers.
Degillo further mentioned that weekly monitoring would be conducted by barangay officials and trained biosecurity officers to ensure ongoing compliance and health standards. The proactive measures have shown promise, with 17 of the 28 local government u
nits in Iloilo, previously in the red (infected) zone, now transitioning to the pink or buffer zone. The list includes municipalities such as Oton, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara, among others.
The National ASF Prevention and Control Program’s latest data reveal that 44 of the 76 affected local government units nationwide have moved from the red to the pink zone, with two additional units advancing to the yellow zone. This progress allows those in the pink zone to start their own sentinelling efforts, further aiding the region’s recovery from ASF.