Batangas under state of emergency due to ASF outbreak

A state of emergency has been declared in Batangas due to an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), with traders bringing infected hogs outside red zones being cited as the main cause.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is procuring 10,000 doses of ASF vaccines for controlled distribution in red zones in Batangas to prevent further spread. Around 32 barangays across eight towns have been affected.

Batangas' hog population of one million hogs needs protection to ensure the country's pork supply; around 10 percent of the Philippines' hog population comes from Batangas.

The DA is urging swine raisers to practice proper biosecurity measures and has ordered the culling and proper disposal of infected pigs. Retail prices of pork in Metro Manila remain stable at P285 to P400 per kilo.