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DA-Davao urges swine operators to observe biosecurity measures

By Che Palicte

October 30, 2020, 9:10 pm

<p><strong>DISINFECTION.</strong> Personnel of the municipal agriculture office of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte conduct disinfection at ground zero of the African swine fever in Barangay Salvacion on Friday (Oct. 30, 2020). Agriculture officials in the region have called on local officials to tighten biosecurity measures.<em> (Photo lifted from the MAGRO Sto. Tomas Facebook Page)</em></p>

DISINFECTION. Personnel of the municipal agriculture office of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte conduct disinfection at ground zero of the African swine fever in Barangay Salvacion on Friday (Oct. 30, 2020). Agriculture officials in the region have called on local officials to tighten biosecurity measures. (Photo lifted from the MAGRO Sto. Tomas Facebook Page)

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 (Davao) reminded the region’s piggery operators and hog raisers to observe strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the African swine fever (ASF).

In a virtual presser on Friday, DA-11 information officer Noel Provido said Tagum City, Sto. Tomas, and Carmen towns have recorded ASF cases this month.

“We ask the operators to please observe biosecurity measures. This is just like how we deal with (the) coronavirus disease. If you are directly involved in a piggery business, you have to leave your gear/garment used in the area and make sure that you will not bring it in your homes to avoid contamination,” Provido said.

He said the cases in the three areas were confirmed on October 6, 13, and 28.

“It was already contained and we have depopulated around 240 pigs and the protocol was already in place. DA-11 also provided an indemnification fund of PHP5,000 per head, excluding the suckling pig, for the affected hog raisers,” Provido said.

Sto. Tomas information officer Mart Sambalud told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday that the local government has already implemented preventive measures and has intensified monitoring.

DA-11 Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. also assured that the agency has reached out to various barangays in Davao del Norte to strengthen their ASF checkpoints.

“We have strengthened our measures to counter ASF because we want to make sure that nobody can bring in pork meat and its by-products inside the province,” Oñate told PNA in a recent interview.

Last February, this city and neighboring areas implemented a temporary ban on the entry of live hogs and pork products following confirmed cases here, as well as in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental provinces. (PNA)

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