Zamboanga city: Mayor Khymer Olaso has issued an executive order banning the entry of live hogs, boars, and pork by-products from Basilan province to protect this city from the possible spread of African swine fever.

According to Philippines News Agency, Olaso said Monday that the order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until veterinary authorities declare that the ASF has been contained. The decision follows reports that 113 hog raisers have been affected, with 284 pigs already lost to ASF in Basilan, particularly in Lamitan City.

"It is not that we don't want their product, but for now we have to temporarily ban the entry of hogs since Basilan is one of the most affected by ASF," Olaso stated in an interview. Under the new directive, the Office of the City Veterinarian, along with other concerned city government offices and agencies, has been tasked with strictly monitoring all entry points into Zamboanga City.

The entry points include the boundaries of the city with Zamboanga Sibugay on the east coast, with the province of Zamboanga del Norte on the west coast, the local port, and private wharves. Olaso emphasized that the OCVet and other concerned offices are responsible for enforcing biosecurity protocols, inspecting shipments, examining transport documents, and, when necessary, collecting blood samples from animals for laboratory examination.

Additionally, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has been ordered to provide logistical and operational support to the OCVet to ensure effective implementation of the executive order. In response to the outbreak, the Lamitan City Veterinary Office, in coordination with the Provincial Veterinary Office, conducted a depopulation operation last week as part of intensified efforts to contain the spread of ASF.

The depopulation operation focused on Barangay Calugusan, Lamitan City, where the outbreak of ASF originated, aiming to prevent its spread to neighboring barangays. Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay has urged hog raisers to immediately report any unusual illness or deaths among their pigs to help contain the spread of ASF.