March 5, 2020

PH province implements zoning against African Swine Fever

The Philippine province of Benguet is going to zone areas in its locality to protect barangays from the African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been reported in different towns.

Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas issued Executive Order No. 2020-012 declaring seven barangays of the different towns affected with ASF in a "red zone" while those without ASF cases are in the "green zone".

As part of strengthening measures to prevent, contain and manage the spread of ASF, Benguet is banning the transport of pigs, pork and pork products from red zones to green zones, Diclas said.

Barangays in the green zones are allowed to transport pigs, pork and pork products to other barangays regardless of their zone type. Barangays in the red zone will not be allowed to transport pigs, pork or any pork products at all.

The Provincial Veterinary Office has listed the following barangays as red zones: Camp 1, Camp 4, and Taloy Sur in Tuba; Loacan and Tinongdan in Itogon; Beckel, La Trinidad; and Poblacion, Kabayan.

The Benguet veterinary office has also reiterated the temporary ban on bringing pigs, pork and pork products into the province from identified ASF-infected areas.

Kabayan Municipal Mayor Faustino Aquisan on 24 February suspended swine raising in his town and encouraged raisers to sell their remaining uninfected pigs.

Aquisan's executive order also imposed a temporary ban on the entry of pigs, pork and processed meats into the town.