Ilocos Norte tightens watch vs. reentry of ASF

The province’s hog industry recorded PHP4.98 billion worth of losses in 2020 due to ASF. (File Photo: IAEA Imagebank/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

By Leilanie Adriano, Philippine News Agency

LAOAG CITY – The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) on Tuesday called on hog raisers, traders, butchers, meat processors, and vendors to adhere to government protocols to prevent the reentry of African swine fever (ASF) in the province.

Alarmed by the increasing cases of ASF in the nearby provinces of Abra and La Union, provincial veterinary officer Dr. Loida Valenzuela said Ilocos Norte is currently “under surveillance zone (yellow zone) with no recorded and laboratory surveillance since middle of 2022.”

“Let us be vigilant. I am appealing to the municipal agriculture officers, chief veterinary officers as well as local officials and residents to report unscrupulous individuals who have unauthorised shipments. Please check on their shipping documents,” she said.

The province’s hog industry recorded PHP4.98 billion worth of losses in 2020 due to ASF.

Guided by a provincial ASF ordinance, Valenzuela reiterated that there should be no entry of hogs, pork meat, and processed meat without proper documents.

Exempted here are breeders from accredited breeder farms with ASF-free certification and piglets used for the government’s sentineling program.

Instead of transporting breeders from one place to another, Valenzuela advised that semen from ASF-free certified farms can be used.

Citing experts’ observation, Valenzuela said risk of ASF is now higher because of the rainy season, noting that the highly contagious virus may just be underground where it was previously buried.

She thus urged hog raisers not to use water from creeks, irrigation canals or rivers to avoid contamination, and to always practice biosecurity measures in pigpens.