Google map of Cagayan Valley
CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela -- Agriculture officials in Cagayan Valley region are confident that the African swine fever (ASF) would not afflict hogs in the region as local officials of Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya have barred the entry of swine in their respective provinces.
"These moves of the local government units are welcome developments in ensuring that Cagayan Valley will not be affected by African swine fever," DA-Region 2 regional director Narciso Edillo said.
He said Cagayan and Batanes provinces are expected to follow suit in banning the entry of swine.
Edillo said even the Regional Development Council-Region 2, chaired by Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III, in its regular meeting last week declared its all-out support to the measures implemented by the department in battling ASF as well as low price of palay and fall armyworm infestation.
"We thank all the stakeholders for supporting our programs especially on the resolution of these emerging issues in the agriculture sector," he added.
The DA regional office, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and other concerned agencies and local government units are conducting massive information dissemination on the control measures against the disease.
On Tuesday, Albano ordered a total ban on the entry of swine and all fresh, frozen and processed pork products to prevent cases of ASF in the province.
Albano, in his Executive Order No. 46, also directed town and city mayors to implement measures in support of the ban and the provincial police office and provincial task force to establish checkpoints in all ingresses and egresses.
“Isabela hosts some of the biggest hog raisers in the country and more aggressive measures need to be implemented to prevent the infection of African swine fever from reaching local farms and disrupting economic activity in the province,” the governor said.
ASF cases have been reported in Rizal, Bulacan and Pangasinan and culled hogs had reached 7,400 in these provinces. (PNA)
