Victorias City in Negros Occidental is being eyed as a pilot area for sentineling and repopulation of pigs, Jose Albert Barrogo, Department of Agriculture OIC-Regional Executive Director, said Friday, June 30.
Barrogo, who was in Victorias Friday, said he is proposing to the incoming DA regional director that the city be made a pilot area.
Sentineling means an area hit with African swine fever (ASF) is observed for 45 days to determine if no new cases have been reported, after which pigs will be placed in the area and observed for three months, he said.
If the pigs do not get sick during that period the area can be declared ASF free, Barrogo added.
Disinfection and repopulation can then be conducted, he said.
A breeders farm can then be established in Victorias, Barrogo added.
Only local government units with confirmed ASF cases can be covered by the DA sentineling and repopulation program, he said.
The DA cannot conduct sentineling in San Enrique where its entire pig pollution has been wiped out by diseases because it was not declared as ASF hit, Barrogo said.*