Antique: The inbound transport of live swine in Antique remains prohibited despite the province’s reclassification to pink status, a buffer zone, from its previous red status, which indicated a confirmed case of African swine fever (ASF). Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) Office Public Health Division chief, Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, stated that the reclassification follows Antique registering zero confirmed ASF cases as of January 20.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ardamil emphasized that the restriction on live hog entry is a precautionary measure as local hog raisers strive to recover from the ASF epidemic. The towns of San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom, Hamtic, and Belison suffered significant financial losses due to ASF, leading to the continued enforcement of checkpoints to prevent live hogs from entering, especially from red zones.

Checkpoints have been established in strategic locations, including the southernmost town of Anini-y, the northernmost municipality of Libertad, Hamtic, which borders Iloilo province, and Pandan, the alternative route to Aklan province. Ardamil further noted that traders wishing to transport live hogs to Antique must obtain a Certificate of Acceptance from the ProVet Office.

The only exception to the ban has been for 131 piglets from the Department of Agriculture, allowed into Antique for sentinelling purposes. These piglets were distributed last December to hog raisers in San Jose de Buenavista, the first town in the province to be declared ASF-free. Although the outbound transport of live hogs is permitted, traders must present a valid transport permit at checkpoints.