Oton under state of calamity due to ASF spread

The entire town of Oton in the province of Iloilo has been placed under a state of calamity due to the “widespread occurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF).”

The state of calamity declaration was approved on Oct. 20 by the Sangguniang Bayan of Oton through a resolution.

According to the Municipal Agriculture and Cooperative Office, ASF has so far affected 10 out of the town’s 37 barangays.

“There are already hundreds of swine/pigs already depopulated causing a rippling effect to all swine-related business such as swine growers, middleman, meat processors, and many more staggering millions of pesos of losses to swine farmers,” the resolution stated.

Citing data from the the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Councilor Lee Alison Bretaña said at least 15 percent of the forecasted affected population require emergency assistance and more than 30 percent of the means of livelihood in agriculture and business sectors are affected.

Bretaña, who serves as chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, sponsored the resolution.

The declaration is expected to help the town in its prevention and control efforts in terms of resources by utilizing the local disaster risk reduction management fund, particularly its quick response fund for the conduct of sustained biosecurity surveillance and protection measures.