About 75 percent of hogs in the Philippines are raised in smallholder farms (previously called backyard farms). These small farms have been hard hit by African swine fever. PHOTO FROM AUTHOR’S PERSONAL FILE
About 75 percent of hogs in the Philippines are raised in smallholder farms (previously called backyard farms). These small farms have been hard hit by African swine fever. PHOTO FROM AUTHOR’S PERSONAL FILE

LAST March 8, the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) confirmed the first cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Cebu. However, according to former Cebu City veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang, there were confirmed ASF cases as early as November. The disease subsequently spread to around 30 barangay in nine towns and cities before BAI formally announced that samples from Carcar City, Cebu's "lechon capital," had tested positive for the virus.

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