SOGIE Equality Bill

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The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE, Tagalog: ['sɔdʒi]) Equality Bill,
also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB),[1][2] is a proposed legislation of the Congress of
the Philippines. It is intended to prevent various economic and public accommodation-related acts of
discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.[3] The
current versions of the bill are championed by Kaka Bag-ao, Geraldine Roman, and Tom Villarin in
the House of Representatives, and Risa Hontiveros in the Senate. The version in the House of
Representative passed its third reading most recently on September 20, 2017, but died in the
Senate.[4] It has been refiled for the 18th Congress.

Legislative history[edit]
The bill was first filed in congress in 2000 by then-senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and then-
Akbayan party-list Representative Etta Rosales, in which the bill passed 3rd reading in the House
but stalled in the Senate. Similar measures were filed by other senators in the 15th and 16th
congresses without success.[5] The bill was re-filed by Defensor-Santiago in every congressional
period in the Senate until her last term in 2016. The counterpart bill in the House was also filed
continuously by the representatives of Akbayan party-list.
17th Congress[edit]
In 2017, House Bill No. 4982, sponsored by Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (the principal author
of the measure since her first term), Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Akbayan Party-List Rep. Tomas
Villarin, and several others, was not approved on third and final reading for the first time since
2001[6] with 198 members of the House of Representativesvoting for the bill and none opposing it, a
historic pro-LGBT move from the House of Representatives.[7]
The counterpart bill in the Senate, filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros (the first Akbayan senator), was
in the period of interpolations by May 2018. It is backed by Senators Loren Legarda, Grace
Poe, Nancy Binay, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Chiz Escudero, Ralph Recto, Sonny Angara, JV
Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Leila de Lima, although de Lima is barred from
voting on the bill as she is currently in police custody.[8][9] It was opposed by Senators Tito
Sotto, Manny Pacquiao, Cynthia Villar, and Joel Villanueva (who signed up as a co-author of the
bill).[10] Other senators such as Win Gatchalian, Koko Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes, Panfilo Lacson,
and Richard J. Gordon have not yet expressed their support or rejection of the bill. Senator Trillanes
is currently facing cases that may put him in jail, which may make him ineligible to vote for the bill
like senator De Lima if ever he is arrested. Additionally, Alan Peter Cayetano and Gregorio
Honasan no longer have voting rights on Senate measures as they declined to be part of the
presidential cabinet.[11] All in all, out of the existing 24 Senate seats: 12 seats support and can vote
on the bill; 1 seat supports but cannot vote on the bill (although the number may rise to 2); 4 seats
oppose and can vote on the bill; 5 seats can vote on the bill but have not yet given their positions on
it (although the number may be reduced to 5); and 2 seats are de factovacated.[11] For a bill to pass
the Senate, it needs a vote of 50% (12) of the body, plus one (1) vote for a total of thirteen (13)
votes. The SOGIE Equality Bill currently is supported by 12 seats that are allowed to vote on the
measure.[12]
The bill is also supported by the Catholic student governments of University of the Philippines-
Diliman (UPD), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University(DLSU)-Manila, De La
Salle - College of St. Benilde (CSB), Far Eastern University (FEU), Miriam College (MC), St.
Scholastica's College (SSC)-Manila and San Beda University (SBU). The longest running LGBT
student organization UP Babaylan has also been supporting the bill ever since it was first filed.,[13] as
well as known celebrities and icons such as Heart Evangelista, Nadine Lustre, Bianca Gonzalez, Iza
Calzado, Charo Santos-Concio, Dingdong Dantes, Joey Mead King, Divine Lee, Karen Davila, Chot
Reyes, Tootsy Angara, BJ Pascual, Samantha Lee, Christine Bersola-Babao, Rajo Laurel, Tim
Yap, Anne Curtis, Mari Jasmine, Laureen Uy, Pia Wurtzbach, Lorenzo Tañada III, Vice
Ganda, Arnold Van Opstal, and Chel Diokno.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]
In March 2018, a small group of Christians protested at the Senate against the SOGIE bill by calling
the proposed legislation an 'abomination', adding that homosexuality is allegedly a 'sin' citing that
their 'hate' is allegedly credible because it is supposedly written in the Bible and that viewing that
identifying as part of the LGBT community is a supposedly a 'lifestyle'.[23] The group also claimed that
the bill relates to same-sex marriage, which is not found anywhere within the bill.[24] Senators
Villanueva, Gatchalian, and Villar spoke against same-sex marriage after the protest.[25] In May 2018,
senator Tito Sotto, who opposes the SOGIE bill, became the new Senate President. In an interview,
Sotto was asked on the bill's passage, to which he responded, "Not in this congress."[11]
In July 2018, various high-profile celebrities rallied for the passage of the SOGIE bill. They also
called out senators Sotto, Pacquiao, and Villanueva to end the debates and pass the proposed
legislation.[15] In August 2018, on the height of the bill's postponed debates, various discrimination
events against the Filipino LGBT community surfaced, causing public calling for the passage of the
SOGIE Equality Bill in the Senate.[26][27] Numerous influential personalities, including political allies of
the three senators who oppose the bill, sided with the calls to pass the landmark proposal.[19][26][9]
In January 2019, fake news and chain mails[28] claiming that there are 'satanic'[29] and 'same-sex
marriage' provisions in the SOGIE bill began circulating, a move to dislodge the bill's progress.[30] The
actual bill does not have any satanic nor same-sex marriage provisions.[31]
In May 2019, the SOGIE Equality Bill officially became the longest-running bill under the Senate
interpellation period in Philippine history. Supporters of the bill have remarked that the prolonged
interpellation was intended by the dissenters to block the passage of the historic anti-discrimination
bill.[32] The bill's principal author and sponsor in the Senate, senator Risa Hontiveros, has again
called on her Senate colleagues to formally close the interpellation period, so that the bill can finally
be subject for amendments and voting.[32] In June 2019, with the end of the session of the 17th
Congress, the SOGIE Equality Bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression -- after the lawmakers failed to tackle the bill in this session of the
Senate of the Philippines. The Senate version of the bill was first filed in August 11, 2016. It was
sponsored by Risa Hontiveros in December 14 of the same year. The bill has become one of the
slowest-moving bills in the country’s history. The passed house version of the bill would have
penalised discrimination with a fine of not less than ₱100,000 but not more than ₱500,000, or
imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years or both, depending on the court's
decision. [33][33] however, she said the bill had gained new allies and wider acceptance among policy
makers and the public and that she is confident the bill will pass in the next Congress.[34] The bill was
archived, and the bill must again be refiled in the 18th Congress, starting over the one to three-year
process of enactment again.[32]
18th Congress[edit]
Versions of the SOGIE Equality Bill was again refiled in the 18th Congress by senator Risa
Hontiveros[35], senator Imee Marcos[36], senator Leila de Lima, and senator Kiko Pangilinan,[37] while
another similar bill was filed by senator Sonny Angara.[38] Senators Bong Go[39], Juan Miguel
Zubiri[40], Ralph Recto,[41] and Franklin Drilon[42] have manifested their support for the SOGIE Bill. In
the House of Representatives, various representatives have also filed their versions of the bill,
notably, Sol Aragones of Laguna[43] Geraldine Roman of Bataan,[44] Loren Legarda of Antique[45],
Maria Lourdes Alba of Bukidnon, Jose Belmonte of Quezon city, Bayan Muna representatives
Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite, Kristine Singson of Ilocos Sur, Bagong
Henerasyon representative Bernadette Dy, Eric Olivarez of Parañaque city, and Francis Abaya of
Cavite.[46]Representatives Sy-Alvarado, De Venecia, Reyes, Taduran, Bordado, Olivarez, and
Violago have also signed as co-author of the bill filed by representative Roman,[47] while Gabriela
Women's Party representative Brosas has signed as co-author of the bill filed by Bayan Muna.[48]
Religious leaders also manifested their support for the SOGIE Bill, such as Koko Alviar of the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan Church)[49] Sister Mary John Mananzan, OSB, executive director of
the Institute of Women’s Studies of the Catholic St. Scholastica’s College,[50] Bishop Solito Toquiero
of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines,[51]and Pastor Kakay Pamaran of the Union
Theological Seminary.[52] In contrast, representative Eddie Villanueva claimed that the SOGIE Bill is
'imported' and not part of Filipino culture.[53]
Senate president Tito Sotto has again expressed dissent against the bill, adding that the bill "will not
pass" in the Senate as long as he is the Senate president.[54] Senator Joel Villanueva has also
expressed dissent.[55]
Various personalities have again called support for the SOGIE Bill, namely, Anne Curtis[56] Heart
Evangelista, Catriona Gray, Pia Wurtzbach, Judy Taguiwalo [57][58] Iza Calzado, Nadine Lustre, Janine
Gutierrez, BJ Pascual, Mari Jasmine and Samantha Lee.[59] Vice President Leni Robredo also
supports the SOGIE Bill[60], while President Rodrigo Dutertesupports "an anti-discrimination law
patterned like the one approved in Davao".[61] The government has stated that they will certify an
anti-discrimination bill as "urgent".[62]
Why do we need to know a youth’s SOGIE? • Similar to other parts of our identity, like race and
ethnicity, SOGIE matters. • SOGIE is an important piece of our identity that can determine and shape our
needs and experiences. Why are we collecting SOGIE information? • Alameda County’s Department of
Children & Family Services is committed to providing highquality and equitable care to all youth. •
Understanding the whole child is necessary to ensure positive outcomes. • Research tells us that certain
youth experience differential treatment as a result of their SOGIE. • Current best practices in the child
welfare field state that collecting SOGIE is an important first step to better understanding the lives,
experiences, and possible unique challenges of LGBTQ and gender non-conforming youth in the child
welfare system. • The intersection of race with one’s SOGIE is multifaceted and must be considered.
What will we do with the information? • NCCD will review and analyze the information gathered to
determine if there is disproportionality within our practice or disparate outcomes for children and youth
based on SOGIE and the intersection with race. • The findings from that analysis will be shared with the
department executive team and the department’s LGBTQ Workgroup to guide their efforts for the
upcoming year. How will we collect the information? • Primary Child Welfare Workers will collect the
information using a one-page questionnaire during their visits with children and youth, ages 10-21, in
the months of November and December 2014. What is SOGIE? SOGIE is an acronym that stands for
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression. EVERYBODY has one! INTERVIEWING TIPS
for gathering SOGIE information from children and youth: 1. Be mindful of your own beliefs, values,
cultural norms, and gaps in knowledge surrounding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender
expression. 2. Your goal is to create a safe space for youth to disclose their SOGIE; be aware of your non-
verbal reactions, especially if a youth discloses something different than what you anticipated. 3. A
hesitancy to disclose SOGIE in the beginning is common given the harassment and discrimination many
LGBTQ and gender non-conforming children and youth have encountered. Therefore, a child or youth
may opt out the first time you meet. If so, please inquire again during the following visit. 4. If a youth
tells you that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning: • Be affirming (e.g.,
thank them for sharing); • Discuss it (ask questions like: Who have you told? Do you feel supported?); •
Do not include in dependency files or the court documents WITHOUT youth’s consent; • Explore what it
means to them and how it connects to their identity and behaviors; and • Discuss concerns, challenges,
and any next steps for best practice with your supervisor. Youth Name: Youth DOB: / / Who: ALL
children and youth ages 10–21 years When: During monthly visits in November and December 2014
Why: These are questions about how children and youth see themselves. We know everyone is unique,
but we have not always been good at talking about or identifying that. Our organization is working very
hard to figure out what is important to children and youth and how best to support them. Questions
(check all that apply) 1. Were you born a boy, girl, or something else? … Boy … Girl … Something else: 2.
Do you feel like a boy, girl, or something else? … Boy … Girl … Something else: 3. Do you prefer to wear
boy clothes or girl clothes? … Boy clothes … Girl clothes … Depends on the day 4. Do you like and/or date
girls, boys, both, or neither? … Girls … Boys … Both … Neither 5. Are you gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer,
questioning, straight, or something else? … Gay … Lesbian … Bisexual … Queer … Questioning … Straight
… Something else: NOT TO BE INCLUDED in dependency file or court document WITHOUT youth’s
consent. Return completed questionnaires to your supervisor. Confidential SOGIE Questionnaire Child
welfare supervisors are asked to present this information to their staff at a unit meeting in the month of
October. THANK YOU! We will be conducting a SOGIE PDSA in the months of November and December.
WHAT is a PDSA? PDSA is a problem-solving model used for improving a process or carrying out change.
The model for improvement, PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act), was designed to test and implement changes
with the idea that small practice changes have a significant impact on child welfare. Our department
used this model to identify Native American children and families with whom we work; we also
conducted a PDSA around the use of “hot words” in the ERU/Screening process. WHY collect SOGIE
now? As you know, during the past several months, department staff received training on SOGIE from
Amy Cipolla-Stickles of NCCD in preparation for this next step. This SOGIE information collection is the
second phase of our work and commitment to: • Provide quality and equitable care to all children and
youth we serve; • Accurately and confidentially assess the proportion of foster youth who identify as
LGBTQ and gender non-conforming; and • Assess whether LGBTQ or gender non-conforming youth are
overrepresented in our department, as the latest research shows for other jurisdictions/states. Expected
outcomes of the work: • A better understanding of the experiences of the children and youth within our
department. • A better understanding of how best to allocate resources to support children and youth.
• Increased awareness regarding the intersection of race and SOGIE as we continue our work on
disproportionality. WHO will collect SOGIE information? Primary child welfare workers with open
caseloads FROM WHOM are we collecting SOGIE information? Children and youth between the ages of
10-21 WHEN will we collect SOGIE information? During monthly visits in November and December 2014
HOW will the SOGIE information be collected from the workers? 1. After workers gather the SOGIE
information from the children and youth on their caseloads, they will return the completed
questionnaires to their supervisors. 2. Supervisors will put the completed questionnaires in the envelope
provided by NCCD. 3. At the end of November and December, Amy Cipolla-Stickles or a member of the
LGBTQ Workgroup will collect the completed questionnaires. SOGIE PDSA Instructions for Child Welfare
Supervisors
 Philippines confirms African
swine fever, culls 7,000 pigs
Mass culling carried out at farms in 2 provinces in
northern Philippines worst hit by highly-contagious
disease.
9 Sept 2019




The Philippines is the latest country to be hit by the disease, which has ravaged pig herds in Asia
Philippines hosts global writers' congress as media 'censored'yesterday

 Red Cross alarm over polio outbreak in Philippines after 19 years4 days ago
 Gang riot in overcrowded prison in the Philippines turns deadly6 days ago
 Rowers drown in dragon boat accident in Philippineslast week
Lab tests have confirmed that African swine fever caused the deaths of pig
herds in at least seven villages near Manila. A multi-agency body will be set up
to ensure the highly-contagious disease does not spread further, Philippine
officials said on Monday.

Secretary of Agriculture William Dar said at a news conference that 16 out of

20 blood samples sent to a British lab tested positive for the disease, but
further tests were needed.

"What hit us we don't know among the 35 strains," Dar said, referring to the
different strains of the virus with varying degrees of lethality. He appealed to
journalists to help the government prevent public alarm that could hurt local
pig farming.

Measles outbreak in the Philippines

kills 55 children since 2019 (2:50)

More than 7,400 pigs have been culled on farms in villages in Rizal and
Bulacan provinces that were feared to have been hit by the viral infection in
recent months.

The Department of Agriculture is verifying reports of infections in other areas,

Dar said, but he refused to identify the areas.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, African swine fever is
not a risk to human health.

Despite confirmation of the infections, Philippine authorities are in control of

the problem and will further tighten quarantine checks, including in airports
and seaports, and crack down on smuggling of imported meat to prevent
large-scale outbreaks, officials said. They assured that pork supply and prices
will remain normal.

"The hog industry is one of the more critical industries in the country. Let us
not allow it to be affected in a big way," Dar said. "Everything that has to be
done by government with the help of the private sector is being done."
The Philippines is the latest country in Asia to report the disease, with hard-
hit Chinaand Vietnam culling millions of pigs and scrambling to find a vaccine
for an infection that has ravaged their swine industries.

China is home to half of the world's pig population. In Vietnam alone, the
virus has caused the deaths of more than four million pigs.

African swine fever is fatal and highly contagious for pigs, with no known cure.

It can be transmitted through contaminated feeds, and even through non-

living objects such as shoes, clothes and knives due to the virus' high
resistance.

The disease has been reported in China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos
and North Korea.

Some experts have said the current spread of swine fever is the largest known
animal disease outbreak in history.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

African swine fever sanhi ng
pagkamatay ng mga baboy
(UPDATE) Nagpositibo sa African swine fever (ASF) ang blood samples ng ilang namatay na baboy
sa bansa, sabi ngayong Lunes ni Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Sa 20 blood samples ng mga namatay na baboy mula Rizal at Bulacan na ipinadala sa United
Kingdom (UK), 14 ay nagpositibo sa ASF, sabi ni Dar sa isang press conference.

Sa ngayon, hinihintay pa raw ng DA ang resulta ng isa pang laboratory test mula UK para malaman
kung gaano ka-viral ang dumapong virus sa mga baboy na naging sanhi ng ASF.

Tiniyak ni Dar na nakontrol na ang virus bago pa man ito kumalat sa ibang mga lugar.

Bunsod nito, ipinag-utos ng DA Crisis Management Task Force ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng
"1-7-10" protocol.

Sa ilalim ng protocol, may quarantine checkpoints, at pinapatay ang mga baboy sa loob ng isang
kilometrong radius ng mga lugar, at agad inililibing.

Sinu-surveillance o binabantayan naman ang lahat ng babuyan kung may impeksiyon sa loob ng 7
kilometrong radius.

Ipinag-uutos naman ang agarang pag-ulat kung may kakaibang pagkamatay ng mga baboy sa 10
kilometrong radius.

Sa kabila ng kaso ng ASF sa bansa, tiniyak ng DA at Department of Health (DOH) na ligtas pa rin
ang pagkain ng karneng baboy.

Sinabi rin ng DA na maglalaan sila ng pondo para mamigay ng biik sa mga magbababoy pero
hinihintay munang lumipas ang isang buwan para matiyak na wala nang virus.

Iginiit din ng DOH na hindi nakahahawa sa tao ang ASF.

Kumpiyansa naman ang Malacañang na kahit nakapasok ang ASF sa bansa ay makokontrol ito ng
DA.

Tiniyak naman ni Rosendo So, pangulo ng agriculture group na Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura
(Sinag), na walang magiging problema sa suplay at presyo ng baboy sa merkado.

-- Ulat nina April Rafales at Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News

 RAPPLER IQ

FAST FACTS: What is

African swine fever?
Can African swine fever be transmitted to humans? What is the Philippine government
doing to contain the disease? Find out here.

Published 8:50 PM, September 09, 2019 Updated 9:10 PM, September 09, 2019

SWINE DEATHS. The Department of Agriculture confirms that African swine fever has caused hog
deaths in the Philippines. File photo by Maria Tan/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines– The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that African swine
fever (ASF) has caused deaths of hundreds of pigs in several areas in the country.

What are its effects and how will the disease affect the local hog industry?

What is African swine fever?

According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), ASF is a highly contagious
viral disease that affects pigs, warthogs, and boars.

It causes pigs to have high fever and lose their appetite. It also causes hemorrhages in
the skin and internal organs.

Death is certain. Pigs die in a span of 2 to 10 days upon affliction.

There is no known vaccine against ASF yet.

Which areas are affected?

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said 7 areas in two provinces in Luzon have been
affected by ASF. These are:

 Rizal - San Jose, Macabud, San isidro,

San Rafael, Mascap, and Cupang in
Antipolo
 Bulacan - Guiguinto
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, ASF has severely affected China,
Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, some areas in South Korea, Laos, and Myanmar.

ASF outbreaks have been detected in 32 provinces in China. Almost 1.2 million pigs
there have been culled in an effort to halt the further spread of the disease.

Can humans get sick?

No. The NMIS said ASF is not considered as a human health threat.

However, humans can become carriers of the virus once tainted pork is ingested or if
people get close to the infected meat.

The virus can also survive even if the meat has been processed or canned.

Other Stories
Marikina River tests negative for African Swine Fever virus
This is based on the water sample analysis of the Laguna Lake Development Authority, says Marikina
Mayor Marcelino Teodoro

Pig farmers pessimistic as China tries to talk down swine fever

More than a year since African swine fever began to spread across China, pig farmers are wary of
replenishing their stock

African swine fever now in Philippines

Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III assure the public that pork is
safe to eat, as long as it bears the stamp of the National Meat Inspection Service

Dar suspects that the virus may have been brought by some overseas Filipinos who
came from ASF-affected countries.

What has the government done?

Prior to the public announcement that ASF has caused hog deaths, the Philippine
government sent tissue samples to laboratories in the United Kingdom to determine the
cause of death of the pigs. While tests have confirmed that it was indeed ASF that
caused the deaths, the particular strand of the virus has yet to be determined.

The government said it has enforced the "1-7-10 Protocol" in the affected areas.
Quarantine checkpoints are set up in areas within a 1-kilometer radius of farms possibly
having cases of ASF. All pigs within the area are also culled.

Dar said over 7,400 pigs have been culled in the affected areas.

Within a 7-kilometer radius, authorities conduct surveillance and limit any animal
movement.

Meanwhile, farm owners within a 10-kilometer radius are required to report if they have
pigs showing signs of the disease.

According to Dar, the government has "successfully managed the issue."

"We are pleased to report that we have already suspended the ground operations in
Rizal and will now focus on cleaning and disinfection operations," the DA said.

The government has also banned pork imports from ASF-affected countries.

What is the potential impact?

The disease threatens the P260-billion swine industry in the country. The industry
provides livelihood for millions of Filipino families, as small backyard raisers
comprise roughly two-thirds or 65% of the industry.

The Philippines currently has 12 million hogs in its inventory.

The DA said it has set aside P82 million to prevent the further spread of ASF. The
amount includes P3,000 in financial aid for each affected hog raiser.

What can the public do?

For swine raisers, the DA reminds them to enhance biosecurity measures and promptly
report any unusual animal deaths in their respective farms.

Swill feeding or feeding food scraps to pigs is highly discouraged.

For consumers, the government advises them to remain vigilant when buying pork and
pork products and to always look for the NMIS seal as a guarantee.

The public is also encouraged to report any animal disease incidence to their respective
municipal, city, or provincial veterinary offices.
African swine fever detected in third Quezon City barangay

Marikina River tests negative for African swine fever virus

Adored Wireless Earphones, Finally Break Into PhilippinesPlayBeatz

Filed under:African swine fever in the PhilippinesAfrican swine fever

African swine fever

detected in third Quezon
City barangay
Those tested positive for ASF in QC are hogs raised in the backyards of barangays
Bagong Silangan, Payatas and Tatalon

Loreben Tuquero
Published 3:58 PM, October 01, 2019

Updated 10:19 PM, October 03, 2019

STRIKE 3. Similar to Barangay Payatas, African swine fever in Barangay Tatalon came from backyard
hog raisers.. Photo by DARREN LANGIT/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary William Dar confirmed that hogs from a
third barangay in Quezon City tested positive of the African swine fever (ASF) virus.

In ambush interview on Tuesday, October 1, Dar said that the pigs in Barangay Tatalon,
were also afflicted by the dreaded disease.

Like in the first two confirmed ASF-infected barangays – Barangay Bagong Silangan
and Barangay Payatas – the virus was detected from the stock of backyard hog raisers.

As of this posting, the Quezon City government has not responded to text messages
from Rappler asking for comments on the presence of ASF in Barangay Tatalon.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture said that the disease was already contained in the
regions of Bulacan and Rizal.
In Quezon City, backyard hog raisers in Payatas have resisted offers of financial aid by
the the local government in exchange for culling their pigs, fearing big financial losses. –
with reports from Ralf Rivas/Rappler.com