The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has reported a significant reduction in the number of barangays affected by African swine fever (ASF) in the Philippines. As of January 10, 2025, the number of ASF-affected barangays dropped to 133 from 225 on December 27, 2024. This decline is attributed to rigorous border controls and a government-led vaccination campaign.
The affected areas span eight regions, including the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Central and Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen. Notably, Midsayap and Pigkawayan in North Cotabato have the highest number of affected barangays with 18 each, followed by Kidapawan City with 15, Matalam with 13, and Rizal in Kalinga with 10.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) credits the decrease to strict border checkpoints in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, as well as the use of AVAC live vaccines. The DA plans to distribute 490,000 doses of these vaccines to healthy and ASF-negative hogs to further curb the spread of the disease across the nation.