Date: April 11, 2026 | Writer: Dr. Harvie P. Portugaliza

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Visayas State University (FVM-VSU) continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening local capacities against African Swine Fever (ASF) through its engagement as a resource institution in the training on “ASF Biosecurity in Smallhold Farms” organized by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, Municipality of Hilongos, on March 18, 2026.

In photo: Officials of the Municipality of Hilongos deliver pre-workshop talks, underscoring the importance of the training in strengthening local efforts to prevent and control African Swine Fever (ASF) and safeguard the swine industry in Hilongos, Leyte.

Anchored in evidence-based epidemiological findings, FVM–VSU highlighted key farm-level risk factors associated with ASF outbreaks and guided participants in understanding how the disease enters pig farms, including human-mediated transmission, fomites, and environmental exposures. Through participatory discussions and tracing exercises, pig farmers and members of the Hilongos Hog Raisers Association actively contributed their field experiences, strengthening community awareness and early detection efforts.

FVM-VSU experts also facilitated sessions on the adoption of practical, context-specific biosecurity measures tailored for smallholder systems. A major component of the training was the guided self-evaluation of farms using the DA-BAI Farm Biosecurity Matrix Evaluation and Classification, enabling farmers to assess their current practices and identify priority areas for improvement.

In photos: Pig farmers and members of the Hilongos Hog Raisers Association engage in a participatory mapping exercise facilitated by FVM–VSU, identifying possible sources and transmission pathways of African Swine Fever (ASF) within their communities to strengthen biosecurity planning and outbreak prevention.

This initiative underscores FVM–VSU’s commitment to translating research into action, empowering stakeholders, and advancing science-driven, community-based ASF prevention and control to protect both the swine industry and rural livelihoods.

The activity forms part of the FVM-VSU VET-Mends Extension Project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of local partners and develop context-specific solutions to ASF in the Philippines. Supporting this effort is ongoing FVM–VSU research on ASF dynamics in local settings, funded by the DOST-NRCP and led by Dr. Harvie P. Portugaliza, who also served as the resource person during the training workshop.

[This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 3 – Good Health and Well-being, SGD No. 4 – Quality Education, and SDG No. 17 – Partnerships for the Goals]

 

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