April 5, 2024

 

Local government units in Western Visayas, Philippines, prepare for ASF recovery

As the Western Visayas region in the Philippines embarks on the path to recovery from the impact of African swine fever (ASF), six local government units (LGUs) in the area have greenlit applications for zone progression in anticipation of sentinelling, Philippine News Agency reported.

 

Dr Jonic Natividad, Regulatory Division chief of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas, announced that zone progression marks the initial phase to transition their status from red to pink zones.

 

He confirmed that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has approved applications from six towns: San Miguel and Sta Barbara in Iloilo, Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras, Pulupandan in Negros Occidental, and San Jose in Antique.

 

According to the BAI, a total of 77 LGUs in the region have reported ASF cases, underlining the urgent need for recovery measures.

 

During the sentinelling process, the DA will allocate piglets to selected swine farmers, chosen based on criteria established by the BAI. Each farmer will receive three piglets, and a 40-day trial period will determine their survival. In the event of an ASF diagnosis, affected farms must undergo cleaning and disinfection procedures.

 

Dr Natividad said that the DA assumes the financial risk during sentinelling to assess the presence of the virus.

 

The procurement process for piglets earmarked for sentinelling is underway, with the identification of areas and farmer-beneficiaries currently in progress.

 

To be eligible, swine pens must adhere to biosecurity level 1 practices, including the presence of fencing, foot baths, hand washing facilities, and dedicated footwear for use within the pig pens. Additionally, participating farms must abstain from swill feeding practices.

 

Preparatory activities for farms are slated for April and May, with the sentinelling phase expected to commence around June and July this year.

 

-      Philippine News Agency