Nine towns in Camarines Sur, including Naga City, are placed under tight surveillance by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) to contain the spread of the African swine fever (ASF).
Emily Bordado, Department of Agriculture (DA) regional spokesperson, released the areas on the the region’s ASF watch list that includes over 50 villages in the towns of Calabanga, Magarao, Canaman, Libmanan, and Naga City. All of these areas have been under the 7-kilometer surveillance zones, areas where live pigs would undergo laboratory tests and once tested positive for ASF would be culled.
Meanwhile, live pigs in 48 villages covering the towns of Camaligan, Gainza, Pili, and Minalabac could be sold and transported as long as they have the necessary health and shipment permits issued by an authorized veterinary officer.
Bordado said various checkpoints in Camarines Sur have seized 16.9 metric tons of meat and meat products from ASF-hit areas on Friday.
As of Friday last week, 1,362 pigs in six barangays of Bombon (four) and Calabanga (two) were culled. (RJ Espartinez)