San Carlos City guards up vs ASF

By Easter Anne Doza

BACOLOD City – Given its close proximity and as port of entry from the province of Cebu, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental strengthened its guard against the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Prior to detection of ASF in Cebu City, the local government of San Carlos had already created the ASF Task Force as part of its preventive measures to ensure the city remains ASF-free.

Veterinary Services Division Chief of the City Agriculture’s Office (CAO) Dr. Jeff Reonal stressed that there is no recorded case of ASF in San Carlos City after 500 samples of pig blood from different owners, which were recently collected and tested negative following the request for the city to be declared ASF-free within six months.

“Vaccine is currently under trial in the Luzon area, and we are still trying our best to prevent and secure the city as only the provinces of Bohol and Negros are ASF-free,” Reonal said.

Meanwhile, the San Carlos City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Office also intensified the ASF Disease Control Program and the implementation of Bantay ASF sa Barangay (BABay ASF) with the creation of a city ordinance.

San Carlos City Vice Mayor Christopher Paul Carmona, SP members, and other representatives of the local government units, barangays, and establishments gathered in a public hearing for the creation of the ordinance versus ASF.

The ordinance is seen to strengthen and to institutionalize LGU engagement for ASF prevention and control; establish an effective ASF monitoring, surveillance, and reporting system; strengthen biosecurity measures at the farm level and border control; intensify awareness campaigns and other capacity-building activities and generate and mobilize resources for effective implementation of the program. (PIA)