The Bacolod City government is waiting for the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) test results of blood samples from two pigs suspected to have been hit with African swine fever in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod, Acting Bacolod Mayor El Cid Familiaran said Tuesday, May 30.
The ASF-positive test results of two pigs in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod, on May 26, have been confirmed by the BAI, Familiaran said.
Agriculture Regional Director Jose Albert Barrogo said they sent the blood samples from the two Tangub pigs to the BAI Tuesday afternoon and expect the results out soon.
A copy of the Department of Agriculture (DA) initial tests results were given to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez earlier and he said the city will wait for the official confirmation from BAI, Barrogo added.
Meanwhile, Barrogo said blood samples sent by the Negros Occidental provincial government to them for BAI testing have tested negative for ASF.
“It depends on the province if it will further send samples, which we are requesting,” he said, noting that there are daily pig deaths in Negros Occidental.
The samples are coming from the provincial government, they were not collected by DA personnel, he said.
The BAI has sent an official letter to the provincial government “that we are willing to provide technical assistance in the collection of blood samples but they answered that they are capable of doing that… so we are just waiting for their submissions,” Barrogo said.
“If the DA sends people to Negros to help, we have no problem with that,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said.
Bacolod Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, in an interview on Teresa’s Time on FMR Bacolod 91.1 Tuesday, advised Bacolod residents to make sure that they buy pork from pigs that were slaughtered at the city slaughterhouse to ensure that it is safe.
They city is keeping a close watch to ensure that meat from pigs that died from diseases are not sold to the public, Sayson said.
At the same time he assured that ASF is only harmful to pigs but not to humans.
He reminded hog raisers, especially those who raise them in their backyards, to observe cleanliness and practice disinfection to protect their animals from getting sick.
Sayson said Mayor Benitez divulged the detection of ASF in the city so people, especially hog raisers are aware of the need to take the necessary precautions to protect their animals.
He said it is important to disclose the truth.*