ILOILO – The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Pavia approved on third and final reading the ordinance creating the Pavia African Swine Fever Task Force (ASF-TF) to enforce tight detection and biosecurity measures against ASF.
Nine municipal councilors voted in favor of the ordinance during the SB’s regular session on Sept. 6.
Authored by SB member Daniel S. Fajardo II, chairman of the SB committee on agriculture, market and slaughterhouse, the ordinance spells out the composition and functions of the task force and related measures that would fully implement and enforce control measures to prevent the entry and spread of ASF in the municipality.
It covers all persons and business institutions engaging in swine production, trading, processing, rendering, and manufacturing of pork and its by-products, and within the territorial jurisdiction of Pavia.
Mayor Luigi Gorriceta and Vice Mayor Edsel Gerochi will head the Pavia ASF Task Force as chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively, with the municipal agriculturist and veterinarian as co-chairpersons.
Among the measures the ordinance is strictly imposing is the establishment of checkpoints in all borders of Pavia connecting to other local government units.
Other functions of the task force are the following:
* monitor, inspect and report transportation of animals without permits
* apprehend violator and/or seize any prohibited item during the conduct of inspection of livestock transport carriers and hog vans or vehicles of similar nature in checkpoints area
* educate swine farmers about good animal husbandry practices and biosecurity measures such as regular disinfection, vaccination and de-worming
All seized/confiscated items will be immediately disposed by incineration.
A P2,000 fine shall be imposed and/or imprisonment of five days for the first violation and P2,500 fine and/or imprisonment of 10 days at the discretion of the court for the second violation of any person caught selling, carrying, and/or manufacturing prohibited items.
The ordinance will take effect after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs of all ages, with mortality that can be as high as 100 percent. It is thus a big concern for hog raisers.
Iloilo’s Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-250 (“African Swine Fever Prevention Ordinance of Iloilo”) requires local government units to create their own ASF Task Force.
So far, Western Visayas remains safe from the ASF despite the detection of this dreaded disease in Eastern Visayas.
Other parts of Mindanao and Luzon have already been affected by ASF.
Currently, there is no vaccine or available for treatment to ASF, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry./PN
