ODIONGAN, Romblon (PIA) -- The Odiongan local government unit has taken down quarantine checkpoints that were set up in various key locations around the town back in November of last year. This decision comes as the town has not reported any new cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in recent weeks.

According to municipal agriculturist Rexfort Famisaran, Odiongan is undergoing a "healing process" after over four months of grappling with the ASF outbreak. Famisaran told the Philippine News Agency that one quarantine checkpoint remains operational at the Odiongan Port to prevent the entry of pork products into the town, as the ban on live pigs, raw pork, and processed pork is still in place.

As of January, only the barangays of Tuburan, Panique, and Progreso Weste were affected by ASF. The local government has assured that 126 hog raisers will be compensated by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and other relevant government agencies.

Famisaran noted that MAO has been providing financial assistance to affected swine farmers, offering P500 for each newborn piglet, P1,000 for each weanling (one- to three-month-old pigs), P1,500 for each pig being fattened, P2,000 for each sow, P2,500 for each breeder, and P3,000 for each pregnant sow.

Additionally, ASF-affected swine farmers in Odiongan are eligible for benefits from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

Despite the continued ban on pork importation and the fact that many piggeries have yet to resume operations, Famisaran assured consumers in Odiongan that they can still purchase pork from local piggeries unaffected by the ASF outbreak. (PJF/PIA Mimaropa - Romblon)