There is no let up in Davao City’s animal quarantine measures as cases of African Swine Flu were recorded in the nearby cities and provinces of Davao.
Checkpoints are operating 24/7 to prevent the smuggling of livestock, particularly swine, to the city with demand increasing as Christmas approaches.
Quarantine measures are observed to prevent another outbreak that happened February and March this year.
City Veterinarian Office (CVO) head Dr. Cerelyn Pinili said their personnel are manning the animal quarantine checkpoints 24/7. The checkpoints are in barangays Lasang, Lacson, Buda, and Sirawan; three other areas in Sasa; and at the Sta. Ana Wharf.
“Wala na tay ginapasulod gikan Samal area kay nag-positive ang Talikud Island. Dili napud kung Davao del Norte kung backyard pero kung commercial, dunay mga documents ipresent sa mga checkpoints (We no longer allow the entry of swine from the Island Garden City of Samal. Backyard hogs from Davao del Norte are also prohibited but if it’s commercial, documents just needed to be presented at checkpoints),” she said.
The documents that needed to be presented are the ASF certificate proving the swine is negative, a veterinary health certificate, and a shipping permit. Pinili said commercial farms usually conduct ASF testing.
She thanked the Task Force Davao (TFD) and the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) for helping CVO personnel at the checkpoints in checking all vehicles and if found with livestock, they are then directed to a designated area for inspection.
Since the incident of a livestock covered with coconut husks was caught at a checkpoint, there were no more incidents of illegal smuggling of livestock.
Pinili also said, “Strikto og vigilant pud mga tawo nato diha with the help of TFD and PSSCC (Out staff designated at checkpoints are strict and vigilant with the help of TFD and PSSCC).”
The staff of lechoneros, according to her, were already informed they don’t need to do such a thing as they would also be the ones directly affected when they lose their livelihood.
The last ASF positive case in Davao City was reported in Barangay Lumiad in July 2020. The affected swine was immediately culled. The area is far-flung that no other hog was infected when testing was done in the adjacent barangays outside the one-kilometer radius.
Pinili said she hopes that no more ASF cases will be reported in any of the city’s 182 barangays.
It can be recalled that there were about 950 farmers affected due to the ASF outbreak in the city and some 4,450 pigs were culled. Under the Crisis Intervention Program, whose funding came from the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), P8.5 million were given as compensation to the affected raisers.
CVO livestock technicians also continue to monitor the barangays and districts and submit weekly reports. (City Information Office | OIC Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao)
