Oriental Mindoro town bolsters defenses against African swine fever spread

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Bulalacao, the southernmost municipality of Oriental Mindoro, is intensifying biosecurity protocols and border monitoring operations to safeguard its African swine fever (ASF)-free status. The enhanced measures follow last week's confirmation of the first ASF case in Occidental Mindoro, the neighboring province across the island.

Municipal authorities have implemented stricter screening procedures for livestock movements and agricultural products at entry points. The biosecurity tightening includes enhanced inspections of pigs and pork products entering Bulalacao from other areas, with particular focus on movements from Occidental Mindoro.

The Oriental Mindoro provincial government has coordinated preventive actions across municipalities vulnerable to ASF transmission. Officials emphasize that early detection and swift implementation of containment measures remain critical to preventing the disease from establishing a foothold in the province.

ASF, which is fatal to pigs but poses no threat to human health, has devastated swine herds across the Philippines since its introduction in 2019. While humans cannot contract the virus through consumption of infected pork, the disease poses severe economic risks to farmers and threatens food security in affected regions.

Local authorities have urged residents and livestock handlers to report any unusual swine deaths and to comply with transport and biosecurity regulations. The province continues coordinating with national agricultural authorities to monitor the disease situation and implement rapid response protocols if cases are detected.