ILOILO City – Transporting hogs without permit, concealing information about deceased or sick swine, and spreading false information about African Swine Fever (ASF) are now considered offenses in Iloilo province and are punishable.
The newly-approved Provincial Ordinance No. 2022-286 creating the Provincial Task Force and Technical Working Group and the “Bantay ASF Sa Barangay” (Babay ASF Program) imposes penalties on violators.
Other acts deemed as violations in the ordinance were the following:
* removal of deceased animals from a quarantine area to other places
* selling of pork meat along the road
* delayed reporting
* interference or disobedience of person in authority
* refusal to allow farm inspection, and conduct surveillance, among others
Penalties include P5,000 and revocation of business permit and confiscation of hog or products for the first offense; P5,000, 10 days imprisonment upon the discretion of the court, revocation of permit, and confiscation of hog or products for the second offense; and P5,000 and 15 days imprisonment upon the discretion of the court, revocation of permit, confiscation of hog or products and vehicle used in transporting hogs for third offense.
The ordinance – authored by 2nd District Board member Rolito Cajilig and co-authored by 4th District Board member Rolando Distura – will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
“Sa sini siguro may ngipon na ang tanan nga gin-issue sang gobernador nga mga executive orders,” said Cajilig.
He appealed for public cooperation, particularly from hog raisers, to protect Iloilo’s swine industry. They must alert the authorities immediately if their hogs are experiencing symptoms of ASF, he stressed.
“Kabay lang gid nga mismo ang tag-iya ka mga baboy, magdisiplina man kay pati sanda madara man sa paglapas sang ordinansa, masilutan gid sanda eventually,” Cajilig said.
The provincial legislator appealed to everyone to avoid skirting checkpoints or quarantine control points.
“May rolyo ang mga pumoluyo mismo nga nagasagod…maluoy man kamo sa mga pulis naton nga nagabantay sa mga border checkpoint,” he added.
The ordinance also stipulates the creation of the Provincial Task Force against ASF chaired by the governor and co-chaired by the provincial administrator, provincial veterinarian and the vice governor.
The Task Force Bantay sa Barangay sa ASF (BABay ASF) must also be created, composed of appointed barangay bio-security officers composed of the community, animal technician, barangay health workers, and para-veterinary workers.
The taskforce in the barangay will spearhead in the implementation of all necessary measures against ASF.
“Kita nga nagasagod ang pagdisiplina man sang aton kaugalingon ang dapat. Bantay kita sa palibot to contain the virus kay kon indi kita magbinuliay laban-laban nga maubos gid kag maapetuhan ang industriya sang baboy sa probinsya,” Cajilig added./PN
