Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. warned barangays and backyard hog raisers against withholding information from authorities amid stricter measures to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Archival said the city will no longer tolerate the refusal of some communities to submit hogs for testing due to fears that confirmed cases could affect their ability to raise or sell pigs.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Aug. 3, Archival said he will soon sign an executive order strengthening the city’s ASF prevention measures based on recommendations from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).
While he withheld details of the order pending its signing, the mayor said it would include stricter monitoring of livestock and stronger enforcement of disease prevention protocols.
“There are barangays that do not submit hogs for testing because they fear that once a problem is discovered, their constituents will no longer be able to sell or raise pigs,” Archival said.
He said one barangay in Cebu City’s South District has already been identified for failing to cooperate with surveillance efforts.
“We gave them additional information that if they do not do this, there will be consequences,” he added.
The upcoming executive order will focus on three areas: intensified livestock testing and monitoring, tighter regulation of hog movement within the city, and stricter controls on live pigs and pork products entering Cebu City from outside areas.
Archival said backyard raisers remain vulnerable to ASF outbreaks because infections can quickly spread among nearby livestock.
“If one is infected, there is a possibility that the entire community will be affected,” he said.
The mayor also urged backyard hog raisers to register their animals under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to ensure they can receive assistance in case of disease-related culling.
He said the city government has limited funds for direct compensation but plans to propose a dedicated budget for affected livestock raisers next year.
“For now, we are focusing on prevention,” Archival said.
He added that livestock owners should register not only hogs but also other animals such as chickens, goats, and cattle for insurance coverage.
Meanwhile, the DVMF said the city’s recent ASF incident has already been contained.
DVMF Officer-in-Charge Dr. Jessica Maribojoc said authorities culled 19 pigs after nine out of 22 hogs from a single backyard raiser in a remote area of Barangay Quiot tested positive for ASF.
One pig had already died before the culling operation.
Maribojoc said authorities decided to depopulate the entire herd after the owner agreed to the measure, even after some pigs initially tested negative, to prevent further transmission.
“We were able to contain it. It is already controlled,” she said.
She said samples were collected on July 17 after an earlier positive laboratory result from one pig tested on July 12 prompted further surveillance of the backyard farm.
Following the detection, the city strengthened border monitoring between barangays, conducted additional random testing in nearby communities, and expanded biosecurity information campaigns among hog raisers.
Maribojoc also confirmed that veterinary personnel are monitoring another nearby barangay after reports of pig deaths, although no additional ASF cases have been confirmed.
She said some raisers remain hesitant to report sick or dead animals, which could delay response efforts.
“They have to inform us,” Maribojoc said.
She stressed that early reporting allows authorities to immediately isolate affected animals and prevent possible spread.
The DVMF also continued urging livestock owners to enroll their animals in PCIC insurance, noting that compensation is available for animals culled due to disease control measures.
The department said the city’s early surveillance, border control measures, inter-agency coordination, and biosecurity efforts helped contain the ASF case within the required 15-day period and prevented further spread to other piggeries and barangays.
Photo courtesy of PorciNews
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