The city government of Tabuk in Kalinga is being asked to declare a State of Calamity because of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), a deadly and highly contagious virus that kills pigs but does not infect people.
The recommendation came from the city’s ASF Task Force during a meeting on October 1, 2026, according to a Tabuk City Public Information Office (PIO) report published by the Baguio Herald Express. It now goes to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, or city council, which decides on the declaration.
How Big Is the Outbreak?
Dr. Carmen Wanas, head of the City Veterinary Services Office (CVSO), reported confirmed ASF cases in 21 barangays (villages), according to the report.
The CVSO has recorded 1,451 affected hogs worth an estimated P21,765,000. That count covers only reported cases, the office said, so the real number may be higher.
What a Calamity Declaration Would Do
A State of Calamity would unlock emergency funds. According to the report, the money would go to:
- Biosecurity measures to stop the virus from spreading.
- Indemnification, or payment to hog raisers for pigs that must be culled.
- Other interventions, including financial help for affected raisers.
A 30-Day Ban on Pork Entering the City
Councilor Juan Thomas Duyan said the task force also recommended a total ban on the entry of live hogs and pork by-products for 30 days, “with or without documents.”
The ban is meant to keep more of the virus out and give local raisers a chance to sell their healthy hogs, according to the PIO. These steps would also prepare the city for depopulation, or the culling of infected pigs, and eventual repopulation once the outbreak is under control.
What Hog Raisers Are Asked to Do
Dr. Wanas urged the public to cooperate and surrender infected hogs. Speaking partly in Ilocano, she asked raisers to report sick pigs right away so the city can act quickly and limit the spread.
Her message, in short:
- Report sick pigs immediately to the CVSO.
- Do not hide or slaughter sick animals.
- Do not dump dead pigs in open areas such as rivers or creeks.
She also called on barangay officials to back the effort under Ordinance No. 026, Series of 2024, which set up the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” (ASF Watch in the Barangay) program. In Ilocano, she asked barangay residents to stay alert, guard local piggeries, stop pigs from being brought in or moved out, watch for illegal slaughtering, and be the first to report to authorities.
Why It Matters
Backyard hog raising is an important source of income for many families in the provinces. With more than 1,400 pigs already affected and over P21 million in estimated losses, according to the CVSO, the outbreak is a direct hit on household livelihoods in Tabuk.
What’s Next
The city council will decide whether to approve the State of Calamity. If it does, emergency funds can be released for containment and for aid to affected raisers.
For now, the city’s message is simple: the faster sick pigs are reported, the faster the spread can be stopped.
