• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental mayors were encouraged by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to strengthen their biosecurity measures against transboundary animal diseases.
In his letter to all mayors dated April 27, Lacson ordered local chief executives to mobilize local veterinary or agriculture officers “to conduct 24/7 veterinary quarantine inspection in boundary checkpoints in coordination with the Provincial Veterinary Office and ensure effective disease monitoring and surveillance.”
“In the transport of animals from one LGU to another or to the slaughterhouses, the trader/owner/shipper must secure the required Veterinary Health Certificates (VHC) issued by the Government Veterinarian and the livestock transport carriers must be registered with the LGU or with the Provincial Veterinary Office,” the governor said.
Lacson also cited “the serious threat of transboundary animal diseases such as Hog Cholera, African Swine Fever (ASF), and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu), which could be aggravated by the extreme high heat index that could compromise the immunity of our livestock and poultry.”*
