ILOILO – African Swine Fever (ASF) keeps spreading in this province. Two more towns reported cases of the hog disease – Banate and Barotac Viejo.
According to Dr. Darel Tabuada, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), four samples were taken from Banate and five from Barotac Viejo and all tested positive for ASF.
The cases were specifically in barangays Merced and Libertad in Banate and Barangay La Fortuna in Barotac Viejo.
Yesterday afternoon, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. declared Banate a “red zone”.
In ASF red zones, the movement of live pigs, pork, pork products (fresh/frozen pork products and uncooked processed pork products, except cooked and canned processed pork products), and swine genetic materials in and out of the said municipality shall be prohibited.
Tabuada said the concerned local government units (LGUs) have set up border checkpoints in affected barangays to contain the spread of ASF, especially within a 0.5-kilometer radius.
He also clarified that there is no order yet to depopulate hogs within the 0.5-kilometer radius. Only those within the premises of ASF-positive hogs are automatically depopulated.
“Kon healthy ang baboy and wala clinical signs and symptoms, ara lang sia ‘ya. Ang aton i-depopulate are those positive or infected cases, and suspected cases nga nagbalatyag nga baboy or kon ang farmer mismo mag-submit sang ila baboy sa voluntary depopulation,” he said.
This new approach aims to avoid draining the hog industry and the provincial government’s resources, said Tabuada.
He again pressed for strict implementation of Defensor’s TaHum campaign, which establishes the following minimum biosecurity standards for ASF:
* Tapak – use of sanitizing foot bath
* Hugas – proper washing/ cleaning practices and method
* Matinlo nga Pagpakaon – safe feeding and use of potable water compliant with regulatory requirements
With Banate and Barotac Viejo reporting cases, Iloilo province now has 11 ASF-affected towns. The nine others are Oton, San Miguel, Alimodian, Leganes, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Mina, Dumangas, and Barotac Nuevo.
A total of 65 barangays are affected:
* Oton (31) – Bita Norte, Caboloan Norte, Caboloan Sur, Sta. Monica, Bita Sur, Abilay Norte, Galang, Tagbak Norte, Buray, Sta. Rita, San Antonio, Poblacion South, Pakiad, Poblacion West, Mambog, Batuan Ilaya, Sta. Clara, Sambaludan, Calam-isan, Cadinglian, Salngan, Batuan Ilaud, Botong, Pob. East, Trapiche, Tuburan,Tagbak Sur, Rizal, Abilay Sur, Pulo Maestra Vita, and Lambuyao;
* San Miguel (six) – San Jose, Poblacion (Brgy 15), Sta. Cruz, Igtambo, Sta. Teresa, and Sto. Niño;
* Alimodian (two) – Buhay and Coline;
* Leganes (six) – MV Hechanova, Guinobatan, San Vicente, Nabitasan, Guihaman, and Lapayon;
* Santa Barbara (seven) – Balabag, San Sebastian, Tig-tig, Buyo, Café, Nasugban, and Caloboa Oeste;
* New Lucena (four) – Badiang, Guinobatan, Bulolacao, and Bita-og;
* Mina (two) – Janipaan East and Badiangan;
* Barotac Nuevo (two) – Cabilauan and Cruz;
* Dumangas (two) – Jardin and Ermita;
* Banate (two) – Merced and Libertad; and
* Barotac Viejo (one) – La Fortuna.
A status report by the PVO also showed that 316 hog heads from 11 towns tested positive for ASF. These were from Oton with 206, San Miguel (49), Leganes (13), Santa Barbara (13), New Lucena (eight), Mina (eight), Barotac Viejo (five), Alimodian (four), Dumangas (four), Banate (four), and Barotac Nuevo (two)./PN
