ANTIQUE – The provincial government of Antique would strengthen border control to prevent the entry of live hogs, pork, and pork products from provinces with African Swine Fever (ASF) infections, including Iloilo, Guimaras, and Capiz.
Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao said they would particularly focus on borders along Hamtic, Anini-y, Libertad, Pandan, and San Remegio towns.
A consultative meeting was held by the Antique Provincial Veterinary Office (ProVet) with Municipal Agriculturists (MAs) from 18 towns on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the provincial capitol.
Additional manpower would be stationed at checkpoints to ensure functional border control. Checkpoint officers would also receive rice sacks.
“Ang akon ginapanumdum ang atun mga hog raisers. Indi natun pag-i-underestimate ang pangabuhian sang small hog raisers kag ang kapirdihan nga pwede matabo sa ila,” said Cadiao.
Cadiao expressed her worries that the province may get stigmatized once affected by ASF, as this will also affect the tourism industry and their bid to be the venue for the Palarong Pambansa this year.
“Ang importante gid nga gabayan natun sila [hog raisers]. Educate them about better disinfection practices and monitor restaurants to buy pork only here in Antique,” the governor added.
Meanwhile, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Florencio Macuja reiterated the value of protecting the swine industry as the main source of livelihood for Antiqueños.
“This gathering is crucial para ma-assert natun ang mga activities para indi gid makasulod ang ASF diri sa atun,” said Macuja.
To date, DA lists Western Visayas as the third region with the most hog inventory, contributing 11.55% of the country’s total shares. Antique and Negros Occidental lead the region with the most number of hogs, whereas Iloilo lost almost 30% of its total hog inventory after 22 towns got infected.
The ProVet also invited during the consultative meeting Dr. Jonic Natividad, chief of the Regulatory Division and regional focal person for the ASF Task Force of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas, to give technical assistance.
Natividad also provided an update on the hog situation in the region and lessons learned during the actual ASF control in Iloilo.
“More than presenting your accomplishments in preventing ASF, we have to understand our enemy [the ASF virus]. You have to know the real scenarios to be ready. Go directly to hog raisers to assist them and let them understand ASF,” he emphasized.
He encouraged all the MAs and agricultural technicians to start activating their Barangay ASF Task Forces.
ASF exhausts the resources of the provincial and municipal governments; thus, the participation of the barangay would be crucial, Natividad added.
Natividad also highlighted the importance of immediate reporting, full implementation of approved ordinances and policies, intensified information and education activities, surveillances at slaughterhouses, a regular biosecurity audit of all existing farms, the allocation of insurance/monetary assistance to farmers, and the involvement of hog raisers’ associations and the private sector.
The MAs, on their part, expressed a commitment to strengthen the monitoring of pork products in public markets and stalls as well as those sold online. (With report from MCMBuala/DA-RAFIS 6)/PN
