CAMIGUIN (PIA)–Following the first confirmed case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Barangay Pandan, Mambajao, July 2, and other cases detected, July 6, the Provincial Government of Camiguin takes immediate control measures and calls for cooperative efforts among residents.
“Today [July 6] we received the results of the tests conducted by the Department of Agriculture Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on the blood samples taken from the pigs of backyard raisers in Soro-Soro, Balbagon, and Poblacion, Mambajao. Unfortunately, the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus was detected in samples from these three barangays,” Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said.
Accordingly, following ASF control protocols, depopulation shall be conducted in the infected premises and all areas within 500 meters from the infected premises. Thus, the provincial government requests for the full cooperation of those affected by the depopulation measures to be conducted.
The provincial government also issued Executive Directive No. 2 to all municipal mayors of the province, which prohibits the transportation and movement of pigs and locally produced pork and pork products outside of each municipality, effective July 2, 2022.
Likewise, the conduct of swine treatment, artificial insemination, boar services, and other related services and activities by animal feed producers, animal health or pharmaceutical companies, and hog farmers or raisers, including their agents and employees, are temporarily prohibited under Executive Directive No. 3 dated July 4, 2022.
“All persons in the province who are raising pigs are requested not to engage in swill feeding or the feeding of food scraps to pigs and adopt appropriate biosecurity measures,” Romualdo added.
Pig raisers in the province in areas with no confirmed ASF cases are also highly encouraged to obtain livestock insurance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
The Provincial Veterinary Office also requires hog raisers and buyers of pork and pork products to visit their office to obtain the clearance for slaughter. PVO will conduct an inspection of the area where the hog is raised to check if there are ASF symptoms existing in the area.
“Pag muadto sila sa slaughterhouse, dal-on nila ‘to ang certificate nga na-inspect nato dayon pag-abot didto sa slaughterhouse, i-inspect na again, naa’y antemortem inspection didto sa slaughterhouse before na siya katayon so after ana makatay, naa na pu’y post mortem nga inspection,” Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Lordgin Gamo said in Alerto radio program, July 5.
(When they go to the slaughterhouse, they will bring the certificate showing that they were already inspected by PVO. When they reach the slaughterhouse, they will be inspected again, there will be an antemortem inspection in the slaughterhouse before the hog will be slaughtered. After slaughtering, there will be a post mortem inspection)
For his part, Mambajao Mayor Yñigo Jesus Romualdo issued Executive Order No. 14 series of 2022, an order for temporary prohibition of online selling of pork and other pork products.
“The prohibition from online selling shall be enforced at all times when traces of ASF cases are still detectable in the Municipality of Mambajao or any municipality in the Province of Camiguin,” Mayor Romualdo added.
As to digging up the cause ASF cases in the province, Gamo said, “Sa sige nato’g investigation dayon dala pud pangutana sa mga silingan sa katong naa’y mga naapektuhan nga baboy, ang ila gyung pinaka-main nga istorya is naa’y usa ka pamilya nga namista didto sa tabok, didto sa mainland, pag-uli, nag-BH, bring house.”
(In our investigation as well as during our talks with the neighborhood of those with ASF-affected hogs, their main story is that there is a family who went on a fiesta in the mainland and have brought with them food from the celebration)
Gamo added that three days after that incident, the neighbors noticed the weakening of the hogs. Thus, the start of consultation of the locals with PVO since hogs are already dying in their area.
Given the situation at hand, the provincial government now asks for the public’s understanding and cooperation in complying with all ASF control and prevention measures being implemented in the province. (RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)
Photo release:
The Provincial Government of Camiguin conducts the Surveillance and Inspection of passenger’s belongings and transport vehicles at the Port of Balbagon. Confiscated products, July 5, 2022 include chorizo and pork chicharon. (Camiguin PDRRMO)
