ANTIQUE – Hundreds of suspected African Swine Fever (ASF) hog deaths were reported in Antique’s southern town of Hamtic.
During the Antique ASF Crisis Management Task Force (AASFCMTF) meeting with Vice Gov. Edgar Denosta at Sumakwel Hall, New Capitol in San Jose de Buenavista on June 13, Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) head Dr. Florencio Macuja said hog deaths were recorded from 11 barangays in Hamtic.
“Naglambot ron sa 348 ka baboy ang gin-report nga nagkaramatay sa sulod lamang ka sangka semana kag ginkabalak-an nga basi bangud sa ASF,” said Denosta.
Denosta said ProVet plans to complete the 14-day quarantine before taking blood samples from the swine and sending them to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 to determine if ASF caused the deaths.
On June 5, Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador issued an executive order implementing preventive measures by prohibiting the transportation of swine and pork and banning the slaughter of swine and the sale of pork and its products in the Municipality of Hamtic until June 19.
Under the executive order, there is also a ban on the “transportation of swine from barangay to barangay within the municipality and to and from municipalities. Transportation of healthy swine from other towns in the province to any other provinces in the region traversing the national highway of the municipality is allowed, provided that they will pass the Barangay Fabrica route.”
It added: “All barangays are ordered to conduct inspection and monitoring of prohibited acts with the assistance of the Philippine National Police and the Office of the Municipal Agriculturists personnel, as well as the members of the Municipal African Swine Fever Task Force of Hamtic, to avoid entry and transfer of swine and pork within and outside of the barangay and municipality.”/PN
