• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Authorities in Negros Occidental are scrambling to prevent the return and spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) following the detection of new cases in the island, in Barangay West Balabag, Valencia town in Negros Oriental.
Dr. Placeda Lemana, Provincial Veterinary Office head of Negros Occidental, disclosed on Thursday that they are presently conducting spot inspections, to ensure the non-entry of live pigs, and pork and its related products to La Castellana, Negros Occidental, especially during the market day of neighboring Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Lemana said they also heightened the conduct of 24/7 checkpoints in Kabankalan City and Hinobaan, which have borders with Negros Oriental.
Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Negros Oriental, disclosed that the ASF cases in Valencia are a re-emergence, noting that there was a previous outbreak last year in that town, which was contained through culling.
Authorities are still investigating the possible sources of the ASF resurgence in Valencia town of Negros Oriental.
A ban on the entry on pork supply from Luzon, Mindanao, Cebu, Panay, and Negros Oriental to Negros Occidental currently remains in effect.
Lemana also said personnel of the local ASF task force are also mandated to monitor meat stalls in supermarkets and wet markets.
The ASF outbreaks in some areas of Batangas have been blamed on floods, which according to the Department of Agriculture, is a primary vector of the virus.
Lemana called on hog raisers who have already finished sentineling and started restocking of hogs, to ensure that their pigpens are not affected by floods.
Four local government units in Negros Occidental, including cities of Silay and Victorias, towns of Hinigaran and Pulupandan have been declared Pink Zones or free of African Swine Fever.
Lemana also said that cities of San Carlos and Kabankalan, as well as La Castellana, have already been declared ASF free, but they are still awaiting the certification from the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry.
The hog industry in Negros Occidental last year incurred losses worth P200 million, affecting 3,536 raisers in 20 towns and cities of the province.*
