Barangay biosafety officers (BBOs) are actively operating in 22 towns and cities across Negros Oriental to prevent an outbreak of the dreaded African swine fever (ASF).
Jaymar Vilos, spokesperson for the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), said Nov. 12 that each local government unit (LGU) deployed three BBOs to monitor communities and submit monthly reports related to ASF surveillance.
“The national government issued guidelines for establishing barangay biosafety security officers in January this year, and LGUs complied by June. The BBOs became fully operational in October,” Vilos told the Philippine News Agency, adding that these officers receive compensation from the national government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The LGUs of Dauin, Bacong, and Canlaon City that did not meet the deadline are no longer eligible for the national government incentive.
Trained by the Agriculture Training Institute, the DA Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office and the PVO, the BBOs are responsible for collecting blood samples and other monitoring activities essential to ASF prevention.
In addition to facilitating rapid government action in case of an ASF outbreak, the BBOs’ monthly reports support LGU decision-making regarding the trade of live hogs.
Currently, no new ASF cases have been reported in Negros Oriental since the last outbreak in Valencia town in September.
The PVO has confirmed that live hogs may now be shipped from the province, provided that LGUs can certify their ASF-free status.
Fifteen of Negros Oriental’s 25 localities are still ASF-affected. As per the latest ASF zoning status released by the Bureau of Animal Industry Nov. 8, these include the cities of Dumaguete, Bayawan, and Tanjay, and the towns of Amlan, Ayungon, Bacong, Basay, Bindoy, Dauin, Manjuyod, Pamplona, Siaton, Sibulan, Valencia, and Zamboanguita.
The towns of Jimalalud and La Libertad are under the surveillance, or yellow zone, while the cities of Bais, Canlaon, and Guihulngan, and the towns of Mabinay, San Jose, Santa Catalina, Tayasan, and Vallehermoso are categorized as pink, or buffer zone, the BAI said. ||
