Davao de Oro – The Province of Davao de Oro is heightening its preventive measures against African swine fever with the recent confirmed case in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy emphasized that provincial boundaries, especially in Maco and Mawab, were alerted of the recent developments of ASF cases in the region for a rigid and integrated screening and inspection at the checkpoints.
As cases broke out in Davao Occidental and Davao City in February 2020, the governor issued a Memorandum Order specifying measures against ASF, which include the banning of live hogs, and confiscation, and burning or burying on site of pork meat, and by-products from infected areas.
During the Laging Handa Network Briefing with Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Governor Uy disclosed that with the latest case in Panabo, they are closely coordinating with the province of Davao del Norte on how to contain the disease.
“Nag-meet kami on how to combat this virus and isa sa aming nasabutan gyud in our provincial boundaries ang mga sasakyan na papasok sa aming probinsya will pass through a foot bath and a wheel bath para ma-disinfect ang mga sasakyan, minimizing the transmission,” he said. (We meet on how to combat this virus, and one of our agreements is in our provincial boundaries, all vehicles entering the province will pass through a foot bath and a wheel bath to disinfect the vehicles, minimizing the transmission.)
The chief executive also reminded the hog raisers, especially those in backyard raising, to avoid feeding their pigs with ‘Lamaw’ or scraps of household food wastes
“Isa pud sa gina-remind namo sa hog raisers especially backyard raisers to really be careful in purchasing canned goods kasi it might be the source (of the ASF),”he added. (One of the things we constantly remind our hog raisers especially backyard raisers to be careful in purchasing canned goods because this might be the source (of the ASF).)
Meanwhile, Dannie Apelo of the Provincial Veterinary Office said in the Serbisyo Oro Mismo program that a number of live hog deliveries were denied entry in the province since they also don’t have proper documents.
According to Philippines Statistics Authority data, there are 119,840 pigs in the province in 2018 that can produce 17,444 metric tons live weight pork for consumers with a value of Php 1.98 billion. (Michael Uy)
(Source: PIA XI)