By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The veterinary services division chief of Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City made a request to the city council to pass an ordinance creating a task force which would control the entry of African swine fever (ASF) into the locality.
Dr. Jeff Reonal, division chief, said the ordinance would be crucial as it would be the basis for the response of the city government against ASF, following the detection of the hog disease in Cebu province’s Carcar City, given its proximity and as the entry point to Negros Island.
Carcar City was placed in a state of calamity on March 13, as hogs in three barangays were tested positive for the virus.
The proposed ordinance will also strengthen and institutionalize the city’s engagement in ASF prevention and control; and to establish an effective ASF monitoring, surveillance and reporting system.
The measure will also strengthen biosecurity measures at the farm level and border control; intensify awareness campaigns and other capacity-building activities; and generate and mobilize resources for effective implementation of the program.
So far, Reonal said there is no recorded case of ASF in San Carlos after 500 pig blood samples tested negative as the city requested to be declared ASF-free for six months.
“[The] vaccine is currently under trial in Luzon, and we are still trying our best to prevent and secure the city as only Bohol and Negros are ASF-free,” Reonal said.
The proposal also includes imposing penalties and sanctions with fines ranging from P500 to P1,000, and/or imprisonment to a maximum of six months, including suspension or cancellation of transport permit.
Furthermore, the proposal includes setting aside funding for ASF-related activities and indemnification purposes for affected hog growers.
Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) also intensified the implementation of the city’s ASF Disease Control Program and Bantay ASF sa Barangay (BABay ASF) with the creation of a city ordinance.
City Vice Mayor Christopher Paul Carmona, the SP and barangay representatives in San Carlos gathered in a public hearing for the creation of the ordinance against ASF.
A public hearing was also conducted last week attended by city officials and stakeholders from the local hog industry.
Negros Occidental, including San Carlos, and Negros Oriental remain ASF-free.
Earlier this month, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez issued a joint executive order which prohibits the entry of pork products from Cebu province, including the Bantayan and Camotes islands.
The province is one of the top backyard hog producers in the country, with an industry pegged at more than P6 billion./With a report from PNA and PIA / DGB, WDJ