Iloilo: The Department of Agriculture (DA) 6 (Western Visayas) has expanded its swine sentineling protocol in Iloilo to cover nine additional municipalities after the successful implementation in the town of Oton. Iloilo Provincial Veterinarian, Dr. Darel Tabuada, reported that almost all of the sentinel animals dispersed in Oton, the pilot site in Iloilo, survived. The department had previously distributed 72 sentinel piglets to selected farmers in Oton last year, indicating that the environment no longer showed traces of the African swine fever (ASF) virus.
According to Philippines News Agency, the expansion will include 181 farmers from Zarraga, New Lucena, Mina, Janiuay, Dingle, Banate, Barotac Viejo, and Batad, as detailed in a letter from the department's livestock program sent to Dr. Tabuada. Delivery of sentinel animals to 13 farmers in the municipality of Lambunao is scheduled for August 19. Each farmer will receive one piglet, along with starter and grower feed, multivitamins, and antibiotics as part of the package.
Dr. Tabuada explained that efforts are being made to designate Oton as a yellow (surveillance) zone, but some documents are still pending. The results of the latest sentineling in the nine towns, expected to last for 45 days, are awaited. Meanwhile, the provincial government is also providing its own sentineling or financial assistance for the ASF recovery program across 14 municipalities, with PHP10.03 million allocated for the purchase of 1,672 piglets for 836 farmers.
Data shows that Barotac Viejo has already distributed 54 piglets; Sta. Barbara, 72; San Miguel, 50; Zarraga, 60; Oton, 246; and Mina, 10. Procurement efforts are ongoing in New Lucena, Dingle, Banate, Concepcion, Lambunao, Janiuay, Batad, and Dumangas.
Additionally, the DA's Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program is anticipated to strengthen the province's swine inventory. The INSPIRE program is active in Sta. Barbara and Bingawan, with plans to extend to New Lucena. Construction for the program is underway at 15 other sites, each capable of accommodating approximately 300 heads. The department is also assisting three commercial farms.
Dr. Tabuada expressed optimism that, with the success of the DA's initiatives, especially the INSPIRE program, and the operationalization of commercial farms, the swine inventory in the province will stabilize.
