ILOILO – Two major ports in this province are now equipped with disinfection facilities to ward off the dreaded African swine fever (ASF) upon entry of livestock transport carriers from Luzon and Mindanao.
The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), together with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), installed these disinfection zones in the ports of Dumangas and Estancia towns.
Darel Tabuada, acting provincial veterinarian, said the measure aims to protect Iloilo’s hog population, citing the movement of hog transport vehicles in and out of the province.
“We have to protect our swine industry. Ang amon nga areas nga nakita nga medyo damo ang movement are Dumangas and Estancia ports,” said Tabuada.
The PVO and BAI will deploy personnel to closely monitor the disinfection of livestock transport carriers entering the province.
“Kinahanglan gid namon mag-set up sang team to conduct disinfection sa tanan nga hog vans and livestock transport carriers nga nagasulod sa probinsya to make sure nga wala sia sang ASF virus,” he explained.
The facilities have sprayers, disinfectants and drum containers.
The installation was in compliance to an order issued by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. banning the entry of hog transport carriers from Luzon, Mindanao and other ASF-hit areas to the province “without disinfection certificate from the point of origin or port of exit.”
The Jan.22 order remains in effect until the government declares the country free from ASF.
Meanwhile, the DA is urging local government units (LGUs) to tighten their watch against the viral infection.
According to Dr. John Hilario Jr., regional head of the BAI-Veterinary Quarantine Services of DA-6, they are currently in close coordination with local authorities to strictly implement biosecurity measures at animal entry points such as ports, airports and borders.
He encouraged LGUs to also put up disinfection facilities in their entry and exit points to ensure the safety of hogs entering their municipalities.
Hilario also stressed that backyard farmers would be the ones to suffer should protocols are not strictly enforced./PN
