THE PROVINCIAL veterinarian of Davao del Sur has reassured that the province is free of the African Swine Fever (ASF) as of today, despite the outbreak that hit its neighboring province of Davao Occidental.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Russel Celis brought up the assurance during the regular Monday Convocation of the provincial government held at Davao del Sur Coliseum morning today, where officials and capitol employees were in attendance.
Celis also clarified that the pigs which were tested positive of the ASF disease in Koronadal City were bought from the livestock auction market in Sulop, Davao del Sur on January 29, 2020, but said “it probably originated from Don Marcelino” where there is a confirmed outbreak.
However, he admitted that blood samples were taken from four suspected barangays, namely: Brgy. Aplaya in the municipality of Hagonoy and Brgys. Palili, Laperas, Solongvale in Sulop.
He said these are considered suspected cases, adding that “Immediately, these barangays were locked down. The entry and exit of pigs is not allowed, until the negative results will come out.”
In a separate clarificatory statement, Celis clarified that the sample testing is part of their disease surveillance and monitoring. “If the PCR tests will be positive, then Sulop will be declared as ASF positive,” he said.
The municipal government of Sulop has issued Executive Order No. 53 on February 7, 2020, for the temporary banning of entry and marketing of pigs in its auction market for 30 days to prevent further spread of ASF in the area and other areas in the region.
Aside from Sulop, other auction markets which are now temporarily closed, cleaned and disinfected are in Padada and Bansalan, Celis said.
Also on February 7, Governor Douglas Cagas’ Executive Order No. 12, Series of 2020, temporarily banning all live pigs and all kinds of pork products, was released on the provincial Facebook page.
“There is a need to protect the hog industry of the Province of Davao del Sur from the potential threat of African Swine Fever and the resulting economic loss,” the executive order stated.
As of this writing, the Department of Agriculture Region XI has conducted a public consultation with hog raisers, traders and owners of eateries near the auction market in Sulop.
Earlier, DA-XI Regional Director Ricardo Oñate, Jr. said they have coordinated with the offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-XI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-XI) in the region, for assistance to be provided for the affected stakeholders in the auction market.
DA Secretary William Dar confirmed that 11 out of 42 hogs that were bought to Koronadal City from the auction market in Sulop, tested positive of ASF.
“There is an incursion in terms of a hog trader buying hogs from Davao Occidental in an auction market depositing the pigs there, and from Sulop, Davao del Sur, that is where the auction market is, they transported about 42 hogs to Koronadal,” Dar disclosed in a press conference held in Davao City on Saturday (Feb. 8).
“They depopulated all these 42 pigs,” the Secretary said.
According to DA-XI, out of a total swine population of 14,087 heads in ASF-affected areas in Don Marcelino (7,551), Malita (4,138), and Calinan (2,398), 6,903 or 49% were already culled, as of February 9, 2020.
Dar stated, "We wish to highlight the leading role of the local chief executives, their respective veterinarians and field technicians, particularly in monitoring, surveillance and manning the quarantine checkpoints."
"We at the DA--through the regional field offices, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS)--will continuously provide them strong support by way of needed technical, laboratory tests and logistics assistance, including provision of indemnification fund to affected hog raisers," the Secretary added. (By Carina Cayon))
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