Bulacan province in the Philippines has declared that it has been free from African swine fever (ASF) since the beginning of 2023. To prevent the disease from entering the province and to protect the efforts to repopulate the swine industry, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando issued Executive Order (EO) 13, which prohibits the entry of live pigs and pork products into the province from areas affected by ASF. The province will implement a total ban on live hogs, carcasses, cooked, and processed meats coming from areas affected by ASF. Shipments from pink to green zones, or those from buffer, protected, or free zones, must request a letter of acceptance from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) with an ASF negative test result that is not older than two weeks from the time of shipment before being allowed to enter Bulacan.
Surveillance for ASF is ongoing, with commercial farms being continuously tested and results submitted to the PVO. In addition, a Biosecurity Seminar was held for farmers from all the province’s municipalities, and disinfectants were distributed to improve the biosecurity of backyard farmers to help them avoid the disease. The governor announced that since there are cases of ASF in other provinces, especially in the Visayas, and the increasing number of hog traders that enter the province, regulating the entry of live pigs and meat products is necessary. According to Katrina Balingit, chief of the Provincial Public Affairs Office, the governor’s aim is to ensure that the province’s efforts to repopulate the swine industry will not go in vain.
