By Leilanie Adriano | Philippine News Agency
The municipal government of Solsona in Ilocos Norte has tightened its watch against African swine fever (ASF), banning the entry of pork products and related food items from other towns and provinces effective Wednesday.
Atty. Alfonso Jeziel de los Reyes, municipal legal officer and information officer-designate of Solsona, confirmed this as he reported that the Municipal African Swine Fever (MASF) Task Force convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday and agreed to intensify measures to safeguard the town’s livestock industry which is just starting to recover after it was hit by ASF four years ago.
The emergency meeting was attended by village officials, members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and local meat vendors.
“Any [pork] product will be banned entry in Solsona effective today,” De los Reyes said underscoring the need to strictly implement Municipal Ordinance No. 2021-643, also known as the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Preventive Measures Against African Swine Fever, along with other relevant provincial and national polices.
Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara earlier issued Executive Order No. 14 and Executive Order No 15 s. 2021 which created the (MASF) Task Force and banned the trade of wild pigs.
Before the outbreak, Executive Order No. 72 s. 2019 was issued implementing a temporary ban of backyard slaughter until such time that ASF was totally controlled.
Municipal government data showed that over 1,000 pigs with an estimated value of P5.8 million were culled in Solsona in 2021, affecting hundreds of local hog raisers in the area.
To assist the affected hog raisers, the Ilocos Norte government and municipal government of Solsona provided livelihood assistance.
The affected hog raisers were also given P5,000 compensation per head of pig culled after submission of complete documents to the Department of Agriculture’s Quick Response Fund, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela said.
ASF-affected pigs manifest high fever; have distinct reddish areas on the skin of the neck, chest, and extremities; and suffer from bleeding of internal organs that could lead to death within two to 10 days.
Solsona LGU asks for cooperation on stemming spread of ASF
“In these trying times, we ask everyone to be more vigilant. We reiterate that the prevention of ASF is a twin duty of the community and the government. We plead for your cooperation,” De Lara said.
The provincial veterinarian reminded the public to cooperate with local authorities to avoid ASF.
“Let us not be hard-headed to ensure that our province is safe from ASF,” she said.
Exempted are breeders from accredited breeder farms with ASF-free certification and piglets used for the government’s sentineling program.
Instead of transporting breeders from one place to another, Valenzuela advised that semen from ASF-free certified farms can be used.
She also urged hog raisers not to use water from creeks, irrigation canals, or rivers to avoid contamination, and to always practice biosecurity measures in pigpens.
To date, surveillance operations are ongoing in various parts of Ilocos Norte with stringent border protocols, including quarantine checkpoints, to prevent ASF from infecting hogs in their areas.
