ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has kicked off the TaHuM campaign (Tapak, Hugas kag Matinlo nga Pagpakaon) – the minimum biosecurity standards to contain the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province.
The TaHum campaign was established through Executive Order No. 605 and launched on Friday night, Dec. 16, during the “Red & Green Christmas” switch-on at the capitol grounds.
TaHum campaign establishes the following as minimum biosecurity standards for ASF:
* Tapak – use of sanitizing footbath
* Hugas – proper washing/cleaning practices and methods
* Matinlo nga Pagpakaon – safe feeding and use of potable water compliant with regulatory requirements
“Pangayuon naton ang bulig ninyo. We established the minimum biosecurity standard for ASF parehos man sang COVID-19 nga may 3Ms (Magdistansya, Manghinaw and Magmaskara). The TaHuM campaign is the counterpart of our COVID-19 nga minimum standards,” said Defensor.
Here are the biosecurity standards for the TaHuM campaign:
For Tapak
* All farms and buildings / facilities used for processing / manufacturing / sale / transport of swine, pork and their products and by-products shall use foot baths at their entry and exit.
* All vehicles entering farms and buildings / facilities shall pass on a wheel bath and/or thoroughly undergo disinfection upon entry and exit
* Viajeros and visitors shall not be allowed to enter the premises of such farms and building/facilities.
* The following are recommended agents for sanitizing foot or wheel baths – as disinfectants: Aldehyde (Glutaraldehyde) and potassium monophosphate; and as alternatives: pure vinegar, bleach-one tablespoon for every one liter of water, and soda ash – one kilogram for every twenty liters of water.
For Hugas
* Farmers / farm personnel / caretakers shall practice body cleaning and disinfection before entering the farm premises.
* Farmers/farm personnel/caretakers shall conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of farms, using the cleaning and disinfecting agents.
* Farmers/farm personnel/caretakers shall change clothing before entering and going out of the farm premises, and must have dedicated footwear and clothing for the farm.
For Matinlo nga Pagpakaon
* Farmers / farm personnel / caretakers shall not feed swine with swill and/or kitchen waste.
* Provide swine with potable water compliant with regulatory requirements.
* Purchase swine feeds from reputable and ASF-free sources and from poultry/veterinary suppliers duly accredited by the Bureau of Animal Industry.
* Feed bags shall not be allowed to enter the farm premises.
The TaHuM campaign shall be a convergence program with the national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations, socio-civic organizations, schools and academic institutions, religious organizations, the media and social media netizens, and business and other sectors for a harmonized and collaborative implementation.
The province shall conduct an intensified information and education drive with the campaign’s convergence partners.
Defensor said the provincial government will provide logistic and financial assistance to local governments for the conduct of biosecurity measure trainings and seminars.
“If we do this, we can strengthen our backyard farmers because 80 percent sang aton nga pork industry are backyard raisers. This is not the solution to the problem pero makabuhin sang risgu naton moving forward,” added Defensor.
As of Dec. 9, seven towns were classified ASF “red zones”. These are Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Santa Barbara, Leganes, New Lucena, and Mina.
Barotac Nuevo’s Barangay Cabilauan was also declared a “red zone”.
In “red zone” areas, the movement of live pigs, pork, pork products (fresh/frozen pork products and uncooked processed pork products, except cooked and canned processed pork products), and swine genetic materials in and out of the said municipality are prohibited./PN
