African Swine Fever Devastates Silago Town, ₱7 Million Lost as Officials Battle to Contain Outbreak

Panic has gripped Silago town in Southern Leyte as an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) tears through three barangays, dealing a heavy blow to local hog raisers and threatening the community’s food and income security. The outbreak, which has already cost the town an estimated ₱7 million, has pushed officials to consider declaring a state of calamity to unlock emergency relief funds.

Source:africa.cgtn

Mayor Lemuel Honor confirmed that the first cases were detected in Barangay Laguma on October 2, where ten pigs tested positive for the deadly virus, forcing authorities to cull about 100 animals to contain the spread. Despite swift intervention, the disease managed to reach Barangays Hingatungan and Imelda, with Hingatungan — the town’s largest pig-raising area — recording 21 additional infections. “We are doing everything we can to keep ASF from spreading further,” the mayor said, describing the situation as “a major setback for our farmers.”

The local government has since tightened control measures, banning the transport of pigs and pork products from affected areas. Checkpoints have been mounted on major roads, while disinfection drives and regular cleaning operations are being carried out to prevent the virus from moving into other parts of the town. Officials say these efforts are crucial as ASF, though harmless to humans, is almost always fatal to pigs, wiping out entire herds within days.

Farmers in the affected barangays have been left counting their losses, many watching helplessly as their animals — some of which served as their primary source of income — were slaughtered to prevent further contamination. “It’s painful, but we understand it has to be done,” one local hog raiser said, lamenting the devastation the virus has brought to their livelihoods.

The municipal council is expected to convene on Thursday, October 16, to formalize the declaration of a state of calamity, allowing the local government to provide financial aid and assistance to affected households. Mayor Honor expressed optimism that with continued vigilance, coordination with veterinary authorities, and community cooperation, the outbreak could be brought under control soon.

ASF remains one of the most destructive animal diseases in the Philippines, capable of wiping out an entire region’s swine population if not swiftly contained. With no cure or vaccine available, the fight against the virus in Silago has become a race against time — one that will test the town’s resilience and the strength of its agricultural community.