By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has established guidelines for the prevention, control and containment of African swine fever (ASF) in the city amid the reported cases of the hog illness in several localities in Negros Occidental.
“There is a need to strengthen the city’s preparedness and response measures through enhanced biosecurity, disease surveillance, movement control, and coordinated enforcement to prevent the entry and spread of ASF,” Gasataya said in his Executive Order (EO) No. 46, issued on Monday, June 29.
The EO seeks to protect hog raisers, vendors, consumers, food security, and the entire swine industry from ASF.
Bacolod currently has no confirmed ASF cases.
Under the order, the city will prohibit the entry of all live pigs, pork and pork byproducts from areas with confirmed ASF cases, adding that quarantine checkpoints at strategic entry and exit points shall be established to inspect all shipments involving swine and swine products.
Hog traders must complete shipping documents before entry.
No shipment will be allowed without the required veterinary health certificate, shipping permit, meat inspection certificate, and other documents required by the Bureau of Animal Industry and City Veterinary Office (CVO).
Gasataya said the movement of hogs and pork products from affected areas shall immediately be suspended until officially lifted.
The city is also tightening security to prevent the sale of pork products that have not undergone proper inspection or lack proper certification.
Meanwhile, the city has now reactivated task forces on ASF in the villages, which will assist in the surveillance and monitoring in their respective areas.
Barangay officials, hog raisers, veterinarians, livestock technicians, meat inspectors, slaughterhouse operators, traders, and transporters are requested to report immediately if they find any unusual sickness or swine deaths.
Individuals who fail to report suspected ASF cases may be subject to appropriate administrative and legal action.
Local authorities will also cooperate with concerned government agencies for information drives, monitoring and enforcement against ASF.
If there is a confirmed or suspected case of ASF, the CVO will recommend quarantine areas and disease control zones in accordance with national guidelines.
Furthermore, Bacolod will implement stricter biosecurity measures by cleaning and disinfecting hog farms, equipment and transport vehicles; using foot baths; limiting farm visitors; and quarantining newly purchased live hogs for 30 days.
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, issued policies and guidelines on the prevention, surveillance, control, and management of ASF, which require the support and implementation of local government units.
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, causing significant economic losses to the swine industry and posing a serious threat to food security and the livelihood of hog raisers.
Cases had been confirmed in several southern localities in Negros Occidental, recording at least 1,000 swine deaths across the province.
Localities are intensifying biosecurity measures following hog losses valued at approximately P14.46 million./MAP, WDJ