ILOILO City – Hog deaths were reported in several barangays in Hamtic, Antique but there is no confirmation yet if the cause was African Swine Fever (ASF).
A source told Panay News yesterday that hog raisers were beginning to panic and selling their hogs at low prices to minimize possible losses.
However, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6 is still waiting for the official report from the Antique Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said Dr. Jonic Natividad, chief of the Regulatory Division and regional focal person of the ASF Task Force of DA-6.
Antique remains the only province in Western Visayas with no confirmed cases of ASF.
Natividad advised the public, especially hog raisers, not to panic but take preemptive measures.
The local government unit of Hamtic has started taking steps such as strengthening its border control.
Hamtic mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador issued Executive Order (EO) No. 32-2023 imposing ASF protective measures such as prohibiting the transport of swine and pork, banning the slaughtering of swine and sale of pork in the municipality for 14 days starting at 12:01 a.m. of June 5.
The order came following the mayor’s meetings with the PVO and Municipal Agriculture’s Office (MAO).
According to Pacificador, in a span of two weeks there were a number of swine deaths particularly breeders (sow and boar), fattener and piglets, citing the investigation of the PVO and MAO personnel.
“To prevent and control the spread of diseases in pigs and to protect the public and swine industry in the municipality of Hamtic, there is need to impose stringent effective protective measures,” read part of the EO.
The municipal mayor banned the transport of swine from barangay to barangay within the municipality and from the municipality to other municipalities as a precautionary measure to minimize the risk of a possible disease outbreak.
The slaughter of swine and sale of pork within the municipality are also prohibited within the said period.
Moreover, to prevent and control the spread of the diseases, all barangays are ordered to conduct inspection and monitor prohibited acts with the assistance of the Philippine National Police, MAO personnel and members of the Municipal African Swine Fever Task Force to avoid entry and transfer of swine and pork within and outside of the barangays and municipality.
Meanwhile, the town’s police, MAO, barangay officials and tanods, and members of the Municipal African Swine Fever Task Force were directed to strictly enforce the EO.
Violation will result in the immediate confiscation and disposal of swine and pork, without prejudice to a criminal prosecution for violation of existing national laws and filing of cases relevant to the violative acts.
Natividad, meanwhile, reiterated the importance of strengthening proper biosecurity measures among hog raisers.
He urged them to, among others, refrain from feeding their swine with food scraps because it can be contaminated with ASF.
“Indi magpakaon sang damog sa inyo baboy, indi magpasulod sang iban tawo sa tangkal. Dapat wala iban nga kasapatan nga nagalagaw like ido, manok kag iban sa sulod sa tangkal. Indi magdala karne halin sa gwa kag mag-ilis gid footwear kon naga-gwa kag sulod sa tangkal kag magbutang apog sa palibot sang tangkal kag magpangudal,” said Natividad./PN
