A WEEK since the temporary lockdown on the entry of live pigs in Benguet following confirmed case of African Swine Fever (ASF), Governor Melchor Diclas has ordered to lift the ban.
Through an executive order, Diclas said after the intensive and tremendous effort of the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Tuba and La Trinidad and concerned villages in conducting depopulation of ASF affected pigs as well as disease surveillance and information education campaign in both towns, the possible spread of ASF in these areas is assumed to be kept under control.
On February 7, Diclas issued the temporary lockdown on the entry of live pigs in the province upon confirmation of the occurrence of ASF in Beckel, La Trinidad and Camp 1, Tuba to stop the possible entry of ASF-infected pigs that may aggravate the number of positive cases.
Blood samples of the pigs were found positive of the virus based on the DA Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic and Reference laboratory test.
During the press conference on ASF on February 19, data provided by the Benguet Provincial Veterinarian on Wednesday revealed 532 pigs were depopulated and 37 hog raisers were affected in the province.
The agriculture department in the Cordillera region and Tiongan meanwhile called stakeholders to patronize local hogs in Benguet and refrain from swill feeding to avoid contamination.
Diclas also reiterated that all shippers of live pigs entering the province must strictly comply with the provincial ordinance 18-227 also known as the Animal Quarantine Regulation of the province.