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GOLDEN CITY OF CAGAYAN – Agriculture officials in northern Mindanao are acting swiftly to contain an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in a village in the town of Iligan in an attempt to protect the region’s pig industry, from 21,000 million pesos.
Carlene Collado, regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said 664 pigs had been slaughtered since November 13 in Barangay Pugaan, an inland community about 10 kilometers from the city center.
Collado said the agency turned to slaughter to stop the virus from spreading to other pig populations in the city and the rest of the region. He said serum samples taken from pigs in Pugaan tested positive for the virus that causes swine fever.
DA has activated the ASF regional working group to develop measures to control the spread of swine disease. It is also coordinating with the Iligan city government to isolate the affected village and to carry out the proper disposal of infected animals.
The DA has established a containment zone of 500 meters in radius where no person or pig is allowed to enter or leave.
In the 2019 Swine Situation Report from the Philippine Statistics Authority, northern Mindanao ranks third in swine production, alongside the Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions, with 200,965 metric tons live weight valued at over 21 one billion pesos (average price of 105 pesos per kilo).
Collado said the Prosecutor’s Office had stopped the transport of fresh pork and processed pork products from Iligan to other areas in northern Mindanao.
Mayor Celso Regencia ordered the city veterinarian and local police to restrict the transport of pigs in the city. In Cebu province, Governor Gwendolyn García said he was not easing the restriction on the entry of pigs, pork and pork products from Luzon and Mindanao despite increased demand this holiday season.
Garcia said the decision was intended to prevent the entry of swine fever, which could deal a blow to the swine industry in the province. —WITH REPORT FROM ADOR VINCENT MAYOL
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