KORONADAL CITY (PNA) – Some 900 hogs in two barangays here were culled over the weekend to contain the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Dr. Charlemagne Calo, the city veterinarian, said Monday, July 11, at least 850 of the culled pigs were from a commercial hog farm while 33 were from backyard farms in certain areas in Barangays Namnama and Rotonda.
“Immediately, the city veterinary office implemented a remedial course of action, everything is under control, and there is no reason for the public to panic,” Calo said.
Calo said the city remains in the pink zone as there is only one ASF “incursion.”
“Incursion means, the infection came from the outside sources and not from the inside. In this case, a commercial farm had a breach in their biosecurity that caused the virus to enter the affected barangays,” he said.
To date, the city veterinary office is prohibiting the movement of hogs within 500 meters to a one-kilometer radius of the ASF zone.
“We are still observing the pigs and within this week we will get blood samples for our continued recovery from the ASF,” Calo said.
The local government has allocated P131,000 as financial support to the affected hog farmers.
“ASF-affected backyard hog raisers received financial aid that ranges from P2,000 to P5,000 per pig,” Calo said, adding the city government is also looking for alternative livelihoods for affected hog raisers.