ILOILO – No additional cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) were reported in 10 ASF-affected municipalities in the province.
These are Santa Barbara, Alimodian, Leganes, Barotac Viejo, Mina, Badiangan, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, San Dionisio, and Zarraga.
Dr. Darel Tabuada, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said 10 of the 25 ASF-infected towns have not registered any ASF cases for the past two months based on the monitoring by municipal agriculture offices (MAOs) and PVO technicians.
“Kon lantawon naton ang cases wala na nag-increase ang municipalities affected, which is 25. And, based sa monitoring, may ara na mga banwa nga naga-submit sang ‘no report’ for the past two months,” Tabuada told Panay News.
Aside from the aforementioned 10, the other 15 ASF-affected towns are Oton, San Miguel, New Lucena, Banate, Janiuay, Concepcion, Batad, Dingle, Dueñas, Pototan, San Enrique, Estancia, Ajuy, Balasan, and Maasin.
Confidence in backyard farming grows
Since there are fewer new infections of the hog disease, Tabuada believes that the confidence of backyard hog raisers in the province has gradually returned.
“Kon tan-awon naton ang confidence sang pagsagod sang baboy, naga-amat-amat na ang balik, may ara na farmers nga nagasagod,” said Tabuada.
He explained that the PVO is not against raising hogs again, but farmers are encouraged to inform their MAOs to be registered and given proper guidance and technical assistance.
Tabuada added that the PVO, through MAOs, has provided disinfectants and vitamins, among others. Biosecurity measures to ensure that hogs are kept healthy and free from infections were also introduced.
DA sentinel program
The PVO is currently processing documents to start the sentinel program of the Department of Agriculture.
Among the documents needed is a report stating that there has been no additional ASF case recorded in the barangay in two months.
Barangay officials will submit this to their respective MAOs, which will be validated by the PVO technician.
Tabuada said they are considering the possibility of implementing the sentinel program per barangay instead of per municipality./PN
