By Helen Castaño | 10:19 PM December 05, 2024
African swine fever (ASF) has been detected in Batuan town, Bohol, a week after cases were reported in Barangay San Vicente in San Miguel town.
Mariflor Pagador, municipal agriculturist of Batuan, said that the 39 pigs died in Purok 2 and 7 in Barangay Poblacion Sur, four specimens tested positive for ASF.
“Sa pagkakaron naghimo natag checkpoint, atong gipugngan ang movement sa baboy. Walay mupasud, walay mupagawas,” she said.
Check point
Two men who are from the town of Dagohoy were stopped at the checkpoint. They brought 10 pigs to be taken to the town of Dauis.
Since they had no livestock inspection certificate to show, the staff of the Batuan Municipal Agriculture Office told them to go home and get the certificate from their MAO.
On Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 4), affected hog raisers were called for a meeting by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OVP) with acting veterinarian Dr. Meydallyn Paman.
Paman said financial assistance will be given to backyard raisers whose hogs will be culled due to ASF, P5,000 for piglet, P8, 000 for fattening pig, and P12, 000 for sow/boar to contain and prevent the spread of ASF to adjoining barangays.
She added that affected households are set to receive financial assistance of P10,000 each from the Bohol provincial government and Department of Agriculture.
Pamam said ASF poses no threat to human health, although it is very infectious among pigs and can easily spread from one farm to another if not properly managed.
Strict biosecurity measures
Nestor Canda, village chief of Poblacion Sur, is hoping that his constituents will surrender the pigs within a 100-meter radius to prevent the spread of ASF.
Batuan Mayor Antonino Jumawid urged his constituents to be vigilant and cooperate with the ASF Task Force in the barangay and the LGU under the guidance of the provincial task force and the OPV.
“Let’s ask the experts and authorities about the procedures and signatures that will be implemented. There is a team in OPV that guides the barangay and city now,” he said in Facebook post.
Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued Executive Order (EO) No. 55 for the implementation of strict biosecurity measures in ASF-affected areas, in tandem with local government units, the military, police, swine industry groups, and other government agencies as part of their combined efforts to effectively manage, control and contain ASF.
These include frequent cleaning and disinfection of farms, transport vehicles, and improved husbandry practices and production systems, such as prohibition on swill feeding.
