ILOILO City – As a precautionary measure against the possible entry of African Swine Fever (ASF), the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) pressed for the conduct of checkpoints targeting swine entering the city.
This was the more reasonable thing to do, stressed Councilor Lyndon Acap, chairperson of the SP Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquatic and Natural Resources, citing a recommendation to temporarily ban swine from the city.
“We cannot afford a ban. Iloilo City has no swine production industry. We are dependent on other areas,” said Acap.
African swine fever causes high fever, loss of appetite, hemorrhages, and death among domestic and wild pigs. It does not pose a health risk to humans.
The Regional Agri-Fishery Council recently recommended to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Western Visayas to press local government units into passing ordinances temporarily banning “the crossing of live pigs among provinces and cities in Region 6 while there is a threat of ASF.”
Acap said the conduct of checkpoints for surveillance and disinfection of swine carriage was the better option at this time.
He also pointed out the position of city veterinarian Dr. Tomas Forteza that “Iloilo City is safe from the threat of ASF.”
At checkpoints, inspectors must make sure swine entering the city are healthy and safe for human consumption, said Acap.
The SP resolution calling for swine checkpoints urged coordinated efforts among the city government, Department of Interior and Local Government, Iloilo City Police Office, and Department of Agriculture.
The deadly African swine fever virus has reached the country from neighboring Vietnam, Cambodia, HongKong, and Laos. Agriculture officials detected a rise in pig deaths in some provinces in Luzon.
The Bureau of Animal Industry reported an increased mortality of pigs “raised by farmers in their backyards”, but further laboratory tests were needed to confirm any outbreak of swine fever, Agriculture secretary William Dar said last week./PN
