‘Sustain efforts,' task force on ASF told

BACOLOD. Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, also the co-chair of the Provincial Task Force on African Swine Fever, with the members of the task force during their second command conference at the Provincial Veterinary Office in Bacolod City on Monday, February 17. (Contributed Photo)
BACOLOD. Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, also the co-chair of the Provincial Task Force on African Swine Fever, with the members of the task force during their second command conference at the Provincial Veterinary Office in Bacolod City on Monday, February 17. (Contributed Photo)

MEMBERS of the Provincial Task Force on African Swine Fever (ASF) were told to sustain the efforts on preventing the entry of the deadly virus to protect the P6 billion swine industry of Negros Occidental.

Such directive was issued by Provincial Veterinarian Renante during the task force's second command conference at the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Bacolod City on Monday, February 17.

Decena, also the co-chair of the task force, said they reviewed the memorandum order and other policies relative to safeguarding the local swine industry from the possible adverse effects of ASF.

He stressed the importance of sustaining the measures especially in terms of inspection among ports of entries.

"We assessed the capability of all assigned port and airport personnel including their proper attire, courtesy in dealing with travelers and knowledge on the disease," Decena added.

The provincial veterinarian underscored the need to ensure that all orders by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the task force chair, are being implemented.

It can be recalled that the province has been placed on a "very high alert" status after the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed positive case of ASF in Davao Occidental.

Killing at least 1,000 heads of pigs there, it was the first ASF case outside Luzon.

But prior to this, the provincial government has already implemented necessary measures and interventions.

In fact, it imposed a 90-day temporary ban on pork and other related products coming from Luzon in September 2019.

In December 2019, such ban became permanent through Provincial Ordinance 2019-024, otherwise known as the ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental.

The task force has already confiscated about P3.3 million worth of pork and other pork-related products being shipped to the province since the start of the campaign against ASF.

Early this month, the governor has directed city and municipal mayors in the province to implement the banning of all live pigs, pork and other related items coming from Davao Region.

Decena had said that ASF reached Davao Occidental probably because they have not banned the entry of pork meat products.

Canned goods that may have been contaminated with ASF might have caused the contamination in the area, Decena also said.

"The shipments from Mindanao actually passes through Dapitan, Dumaguete City, Kabankalan City and Bredco Port in Bacolod City going to Dumangas in Iloilo and Manila destinations," he said, adding that "though we do not source out pigs because we are surplus supply, we still have to conduct disinfection procedures in ports."

Negros Occidental currently has a total population of at least 550,000 live pigs.

It ranks first in terms of backyard swine production in the country.

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