PGLU Bans Swill Feeding of Hogs

By: Rafael C. Mosuela, GPC-SP | Date: November 24, 2020

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The Provincial Government of La Union has intensified its measures against the African Swine Fever (ASF) through the enactment of Provincial Ordinance No. 257-2020 Prohibiting Swill Feeding of Pigs or Hogs in the Province of La Union.

This ordinance was enacted after the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) reported confirmed ASF cases in 12 component LGU’s in La Union whose hogs, particularly from backyard farms and one commercial farm of 680 raisers were infected with the virus culling hundreds of pigs.

The OPVet identified swill feeding as a carrier of the ASF. Although swill feeding is not totally prohibited within households, there is a need to ensure that we do not mix it with pork products to avoid the transmission of virus.

The ordinance was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Mario Ortega on November 24, 2020 during the 74th regular session of the 22nd SP.

This ordinance was a contingency measure in order to prevent the spread of said virus and to temporarily discontinue the giving away and selling of food waste to hog raisers in the province. It would also further boost the province’s measure in ensuring that ASF will not affect the hog industry.

Further this will prevent the virus to infect more populations of hogs in the province and neighboring provinces which might possibly result to a more serious economic and health effects not only to the affected provinces but the entire country.