Dumaguete: The Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO) in Negros Oriental is set to deliver 500 liters of disinfectant to the provincial government this week to aid in controlling the spread of African swine fever (ASF), an official announced on Wednesday. The turnover is pending Governor Manuel Sagarbarria's approval, at which point the supplies will be allocated to the Provincial Task Force on ASF, chaired by the governor.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA-PATCO provincial chief Bernard Limbaga stated that the disinfectant consists of 100 containers, each holding five liters, received from the Negros Island Region office. These will be distributed to ASF-affected areas in Negros Oriental. The disinfectant is expected to produce sufficient solution for approximately 6,000 knapsack sprayers, facilitating extensive disinfection operations.

The Provincial Task Force on ASF, guided by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), will decide on the disinfectant's allocation. The PVO is primarily responsible for the surveillance and monitoring of ASF. Recently, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Melody Vilan confirmed ASF-positive cases in La Libertad town, following multiple hog deaths. Investigations are also underway in Sibulan, San Jose, and Amlan, where similar hog mortalities have been reported.

Dr. Vilan noted that blood samples from hogs in these affected regions will be tested for the ASF virus. Limbaga highlighted that the disinfectant could also act as a buffer stock, either for areas under investigation that confirm ASF infections or for those that test negative for the virus.