• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod City Veterinary Office (BCVO) said Aug. 13 that one additional case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in Barangay Alijis, and another in Barangay Alangilan.
Surveillance and disinfection operations also continue in areas affected by ASF in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, assistant city veterinarian, Dr. Marie Janine Sarthou, said.
She appealed for the continued cooperation and vigilance of hog raisers, barangay officials, and stakeholders in the fight against the dreaded swine disease, and stressed the need for heightened biosecurity measures, proper sanitation, and immediate reporting of any unusual signs of illness or mortality among pigs.
The BCVO earlier reported confirmed cases in barangays Granada, Bata, and Taculing.
“We urge all hog raisers in the affected barangays to heighten their biosecurity measures. The cooperation of every stakeholder is vital in safeguarding the local swine industry,” Sarthou had said. “By remaining vigilant and adhering to established biosecurity protocols, we can collectively minimize the impact of ASF, protect the livelihoods of our hog raisers, and ensure the continued stability and sustainability of Bacolod City’s livestock sector.”
The BCVO already implemented immediate containment measures, including the disinfection of identified ground-zero backyard swine areas to help eliminate potential sources of contamination and protect the unaffected swine population.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod also urged all 61 barangays to intensify biosecurity measures, border controls, and the implementation of the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” program.
The local swine industry is a vital component of Bacolod’s agricultural economy as it provides livelihood to backyard hog raisers and ensures food security for its residents, hence the need for a unified and aggressive approach to prevent the spread of ASF, the SP said in approving the resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang.
Ang, chairperson of the SP Committee on Health and Sanitation, stressed that preventing the further spread of the highly-contagious viral disease is crucial to safeguarding the livelihoods of local farmers, and ensuring the continued stability of the city’s livestock sector. | CGC
