By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite -- Officials called for united action and vigilance against the African swine fever (ASF) that has infected hogs in backyard farms in two barangays in Dasmariñas City.
(Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The call was made by Dasmariñas Mayor Jennifer Austria-Barzaga in a memorandum she issued over the weekend following the confirmation on pig deaths in the two villages.
The memorandum also contains the guidelines the city government set to prevent the spread of ASF, particularly in backyard piggeries.
Barzaga, her husband, 4th District (Dasmariñas) Representative Elpidio F. Barzaga and other concerned officials are expected to hold meetings this week to discuss the ASF situation in the city.
In her memorandum, Barzaga ordered, among others, the ban on the shipment of hog breeders and piglets in the city and the slaughter of pigs for such occasions as birthdays, fiestas and other celebrations.
The mayor's order also called for the stern prohibition on the collection and/or selling of "swill" (kanin-baboy or pig feed).
Barzaga also urged the citizens to report to city hall and the local veterinary office or barangay officials pigs found to be sick or dying and dead hogs that may be found floating in rivers, canals and other waterways,
The mayor said only hog transporters or shippers with complete documents such as certificates and permits will be allowed to enter and leave the city.
Dasmariñas, a first-class district with 75 barangays, is Cavite's most populous province with about one million residents.
ASF, a fatal disease among hogs, broke out in Asian countries starting last year.
In the Philippines, the virus was detected only in August and had so far spread to several areas in Luzon, including Rizal, Bulacan, Quezon City, Pampanga, Antipolo, and Pangasinan.