Dwindling pork supply hounds Iloilo province

The lingering African swine fever (ASF) has affected the supply of pork in the province of Iloilo.

Governor Arthur Defensor said on Tuesday, Feb. 21, that the province’s pork supply has been continuously decreasing since ASF broke out in October last year.

The first ASF case in the province was detected in Oton and has already spread to 20 other towns, affecting thousands of pigs.

According to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), more than 96 thousand of pigs, valued at nearly P1 billion, were either culled, died of ASF, or were sold at much lower prices.

To address the dwindling pork supply, Defensor said the provincial government will implement additional measures through an executive order (EO).

Of the ASF-hit towns, 15 are under the red zone – Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Mina, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, Banate, Janiuay, San Dionisio, Batad, and Dingle.

Those under the the pink zone are Duenas, Concepcion, Pototan, Badiangan, Zarraga, and Estancia.IMT