A resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) has caused the death of more than 500 pigs in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, Mayor Jilson Tubillara confirmed on Tuesday, June 23.
Tubillara said that hogs in all 10 barangays in San Enrique have been affected, with the virus officially confirmed by laboratory tests on Monday.
In response to the outbreak, local authorities have established pig border controls and heightened biosecurity measures to prevent the virus from spreading further.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed on Tuesday that the ASF resurgence in Negros Occidental’s, primarily in the southern part of the province.
As of Tuesday the pig mortality in Negros Occidental had reached 4.06 percent, the governor said.
Lacson said that the ASF cases have been confirmed by local laboratory tests and the Bureau of Animal Industry.
The last ASF report was dated June 18 so the number of affected hogs may have l increased since then, Lacson said, adding that the immediate priority is ensuring strict adherence to biosecurity protocols.
To address the situation, provincial authorities are reinstating the containment strategies utilized during the previous year’s outbreak.
The governor directed that deceased pigs must be buried immediately with lime and affected areas must be thoroughly disinfected.
He also advised hog raisers who still have healthy livestock to sell them now to avoid potential losses, assuring the public that the province will follow the protocols versus ASF which were implemented last year, which worked.
On Monday Moises Padilla and La Castellana officials tightened biosecurity measures by issuing separate executive orders to protect their local livestock industries and secure public health.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo issued Executive Order No. 293, Series of 2026, on Monday, June 22, strictly prohibiting the illegal and unauthorized selling of imported meat and meat products within her municipality.
The municipal government of La Castellana, led by Mayor Almejo G. Nicor, also officially implemented a temporary ban on the entry of all pork, pork products, and live swine originating from outside its borders.
[sibwp_form id=1]