Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer has banned the entry into Negros Occidental of live pigs and pork related products from Negros Oriental to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Ferrer, in a memorandum signed Monday, May 22, ordered the Provincial ASF Task Force, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry and all concerned agencies to enforce the ban effective immediately, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
The Bureau of Animal Industry has confirmed ASF pig deaths in Barangay Maayongtubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental, Dauin Mayor Galicano Truita said on Saturday.
No ASF cases in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have been detected yet.
However, pig deaths in Negros Occidental from April to May 22 have hit 4,308 from hog cholera, pneumonia, heat stroke and other diseases, Provincial Veterinarian Placeda Lemana said Monday.
She said they have not ruled out the possibility of ASF since the symptoms are almost the same, but this can only be confirmed by laboratory test results.
Hog cholera in Negros Occidental was detected through rapid antigen tests, Lemana added.
The bulk of the deaths were in the Fourth District at 4,438 followed by the Third District with 216, Fifth District – 45 and Second District – 35.
The most number pig deaths were in San Enrique with 1,838 followed by Bago City with 852, Valladolid – 843, Pulupandan – 367, Pontevedra – 310, La Carlota City – 248, EB Magalona – 214, Binalbagan – 39, Manapla – 35, Hinigaran – 6 and Silay City – 2, Lemana said.
Lemana said the pig virus has spread because of the lack of proper disposal of dead pigs.
She said they submitted blood samples from more Negros Occidental pigs to the Department of Agriculture for testing on Friday and results are expected this week.
Bacolod City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said on Monday that they were informed by the Department on Agriculture that test results of samples taken from Bacolod pigs were found negative for ASF.
All pigs must be brought to the Bacolod slaughterhouse to ensure that their meat is safe for consumption, he said.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said border controls will be put in place and inspections will be conducted.
Pork sold in Bacolod must have certificates where they came from, Ting said, adding that market inspections are being conducted.*
