LET’S NOT BE QUICK IN DECLARING ASF, GUV SAYS

“WE HAVE a lot of healthy pigs around, that’s why let’s not be quick in declaring [we’re positive] of African swine fever (ASF). We are compassionate with our hog raisers,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson appealed Wednesday, May 31.

He made the statement after a laboratory test result from the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture showing a positive result for ASF from a sample from Barangay

Mabini, Pulupandan, circulated on social media.

Lacson said only one of the four samples was positive of ASF. However, he stressed that they have not yet received the official report from DA-BAI.

“The province is already taking measures. We have been following the BAI protocol,” Lacson emphasized.

He said the concerned barangay will be isolated where one pig was found ASF positive. The 500 meter radius will be imposed and for 15 days, they will observe.

“If there is no repeat of such an incident, then we can say it was isolated but if there is, then we will continue to proceed with the BAI’S protocol of 7 and 10-kilometer radius. The provincial government is already treating or has already passed protocols to address the worst case scenario. So that is now the status as far as the province is concerned,” the governor said.

“There will be no in and out in the area where there is ASF. Once the area is declared a red zone, you’re limited within your area. That’s why we have to be very careful… in this case, there were four samples, only one came out positive,” Lacson emphasized.

On the possible declaration of Pulupandan under the

State of Calamity, Lacson said the instruction is 15 days isolation. “We are doing the protocol to contain the spread of the disease,” he added.

Lacson said right now, the province is still receiving orders from other areas and that there are still cargo ships receiving the Negros Occidental products although there is already a decline of orders which is natural because of the present situation.

“I encourage depopulation,and those who are into fattening, do not wait for the ideal weight anymore. What is important is that the pig is healthy, so better dispose of it already,” Lacson said.

As of May 30, hog deaths had reached 7,229 which are worth more than P93 million per report from the Provincial Veterinary Office.*