By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Nine cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been detected in Negros Occidental’s Victorias City, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez confirmed yesterday.
Victorias is the second local government unit (LGU) in the province to have confirmed cases of the highly contagious hog disease, following the first recorded case in Pulupandan town last month.
Benitez, in a press conference, confirmed the ASF cases in the locality with city veterinarian, Dr. John Michael Cabuguason, saying they have monitored the cases in two villages since last week.
Of the nine cases, seven were detected in a slaughterhouse of Victorias Foods Corporation (VFC).
The first two ASF cases were recorded on a poultry farm in Barangay 5, wherein two of the three hog blood samples submitted tested positive earlier this week.
Seven samples from VFC, based on a laboratory result from the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas-Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Tuesday, June 6, tested positive for ASF.
Cabuguason said pigs were subjected to blood tests before they were slaughtered.
“All the animals died and were properly disposed of. Immediate culling with indemnification will be done within a 500-meter radius,” he said.
Cabuguason added that the ASF-infected pigs were with 15 others from Hinigaran town last June 2.
“The carcasses and organs were condemned, the whole area was disinfected,” he said.
“Immediate containment of infected pork products in the slaughterhouse of VFC was implemented,” he added.
Meanwhile, Benitez has expressed concern about the city’s P16-million hog industry following the detection of ASF cases.
The mayor said 90 percent of the 1,584 hog population in Victorias has been insured by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
“We are going to explore options on how to minimize impact to livelihood,” he said.
As of Sunday, June 4, hog mortalities recorded in Negros Occidental were at 10,004, or 8.84 percent of the province’s hog population, data from the Provincial Veterinary Office showed.
Losses due to swine deaths have now reached P114,280,250.
The number of affected barangays in 14 local government units has risen to 120 following the detection of a suspected ASF case in Pulupandan’s Barangay Mabini.
San Enrique and Bago City government units are giving financial aid to affected hog raisers.
Earlier, the Negros Occidental provincial government alloted P4 million in financial assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Last month, ASF cases were also detected in two Bacolod City barangays.
NOCPPO takes part
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) actively participates in the efforts of the provincial government to contain the spread of ASF and hog cholera.
NOCPPO spokesperson, Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, said police stations in the province are cooperating with their respective LGUs to control the transport of hogs and pork products.
Catalogo said police personnel are accompanying barangay officials, local veterinary officials and paraveterinarians in manning border control points.
Police personnel were also given the task of checking transport documents from shippers.
So far, Catalogo said they have yet to intercept motorists who are transporting sick hogs or meat products with lacking documentary requirements.
Last week, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental is pushing to amend the provincial anti-ASF ordinance.
The amendment seeks to impose harsh penalties against violators of the biosecurity measures.
It also aims to update biosecurity protocols to protect the province’s swine industry./With reports from PNA / DGB, WDJ