BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Around 500 hogs in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental tested negative for the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Dr. Jeff Reonal, chief of the Veterinary Services Division of the San Carlos City Agriculturist Office, said they conducted the tests following the detection of ASF in Cebu province.
San Carlos City is a gateway to Cebu through the San Carlos City port. It also shares borders with the town of Vallehermoso and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
Reonal also made a request to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass an ordinance creating an ASF taskforce that would implement the ASF Disease Control Program, as well as the Bantay ASF sa Barangay.
The proposed ordinance will also strengthen and institutionalize the city’s engagement for ASF prevention and control; establish an effective ASF monitoring, surveillance, and reporting system; strengthen biosecurity measures at the farm level and border control; and intensify awareness campaigns and other capacity-building activities and generate and mobilize resources for effective implementation of the program.
The proposal also includes imposing penalties and sanctions ranging from P500 to P1,000 and or imprisonment to a maximum of six months including suspension or cancellation of license to transport.
Furthermore, the proposal includes setting aside funding for ASF-related activities and indemnification purposes for affected farmers.
A public hearing was conducted last week attended by city officials as well as stakeholders from the local hog industry.
Negros Occidental remains free from ASF, based on the surveillance of the Provincial Veterinary Office and Department of Agriculture.
The province, with an industry pegged at more than P6 billion, is one of the top backyard hog producers in the country./PN
