April 18, 2023

Philippines' ProVet establishes 24-hour checkpoint in Pandan municipality to prevent ASF entry

The Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) in the Philippines is implementing a 24-hour border checkpoint in the municipality of Pandan as a preventive measure against the entry of African swine fever (ASF).

ProVet public health division chief Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil said the border checkpoint, with the augmentation of personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of the local government unit (LGU), has been implemented since April 14.

"…the 24/7 border checkpoint was implemented to make sure that no hog, fresh or processed frozen pork from other places affected by the ASF could enter Antique," Ardamil said.

He said border control in the northern part of Antique was strengthened after the ASF case was reported in Barangay Arcangel in Balete, Aklan on April 13. This leaves Antique as the only ASF-free province in Panay Island since Iloilo and Capiz also recorded ASF incidents.

"Aside from the strengthened border checkpoint between Antique and Iloilo in the southern part of Antique, the border in the northern part had also been tightened to maintain our province as ASF-free," Ardamil said.

Ardamil added that since the hog industry in Antique is still safe for human consumption, Iloilo and Aklan sourced their supply from this province.

"Our hog raisers are allowed to transport their hogs to Iloilo and Aklan and other provinces in Panay island in order to help meet their local demand, but we are not accepting any incoming," Ardamil said.

- PNA