1,451 hogs worth P21.7M affected by ASF in Tabuk City; Declaration of state of calamity urged

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — At least 1,451 hogs with an estimated value of P21.765 million have been affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Tabuk City, according to the City Veterinary Services Office (CVSO).

The figures, which cover only reported cases, were presented by CVSO head Dr. Carmen Wanas during the meeting of the City ASF Task Force on October 1, 2026, where she reported confirmed ASF cases in 21 barangays.

The task force has recommended that the Sangguniang Panlungsod declare a State of Calamity due to the outbreak.

According to the Tabuk City Information Office, the proposed declaration aims to unlock emergency funds for biosecurity measures, indemnification and other interventions to contain the spread of ASF and provide assistance to affected hog raisers.

The task force also recommended a 30-day total ban on the entry of live hogs and pork by-products into the city, with or without documents, as part of efforts to prevent further introduction of the virus.

Councilor Juan Thomas Duyan said the temporary ban would also give local hog raisers an opportunity to sell their unaffected hogs while the city works to contain the outbreak.

The measures are also intended to prepare the city for depopulation and eventual repopulation once the ASF outbreak is contained.

Following the task force meeting, Duyan reminded all Punong Barangays of their role in implementing the Bantay ASF sa Barangay (BABay ASF) program under Ordinance No. 026, Series of 2024.

He called on barangay ASF task forces to oversee biosecurity protocols and implement surveillance, control, management, recovery and repopulation measures within their respective areas.

Duyan also urged barangays to establish checkpoints at all entry points to prevent the entry of hogs and meat products without complete documents and to stop the movement of sick or ASF-affected hogs out of their areas.

Barangays were likewise urged to establish condemnation pits or common burial sites in coordination with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City ASF Task Force and City Health Services Office-Sanitation Division.

Wanas appealed to hog raisers to immediately report sick animals and surrender infected hogs for proper depopulation.

“[I’m] reiterating the early reporting of any problem of hog raisers so that we can do our immediate actions tapnu ma-minimize tayo diay spread. Report to us immediately nu adda agsakit nga baboy. Do not conceal or slaughter. Haan tayo nga agkallating, haan tayo idisso ti open area, like rivers or creeks,” Wanas said.

She also called on barangay officials to strengthen monitoring and protect local hog farms by preventing the unauthorized movement of pigs and immediately reporting suspected cases to authorities.

“Ag-alerto tayo nga taga-barangay nga mangbantay ken mangprotektar kadagitoy babuyan, haan tayo agipastrek ken agiparwar, bantayan tayo nu adda agparti, ken datayo kuma ti umuna nga ag-report ti authorities,” she said.

Source: Tabuk City Information Office