Benguet Province is on total lockdown from live pigs starting February 6 to prevent the spread of the African swine fever (ASF) in the whole province.
Governor Melchor Diclas released the executive order (EO) 2020-010 issued on February 5 to implement the ban.
“[As governor] do hereby issue a total lockdown on the entry of all live pigs into the province until such time that the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture (BAI-DA) of the assurance in the safety of the swine industry,” the order stated.
Baguio City, the center of the province, is also included in the lockdown.
Police are also mandated to strictly implement animal quarantine protocols and food safety measures.
The order was released after pigs in the province were tested positive for ASF by the Animal Disease Diagnostic laboratory of the BAI-DA.
Camp 1, Tuba, and Beckel, La Trinidad will implement an immediate lockdown to control the spread of the virus after samples from these places tested positive for ASF.
Dr. Meriam Tiongan, provincial veterinary office chief, will conduct a survey for the implementation of the “1-7-10 protocol.”
Covered in the protocol are quarantine checkpoints set up in locations within a 1-kilometer radius of suspected farms—monitoring the movement of live pigs, pork, and pork products.
Authorities within a 7-kilometer radius, on the other hand, will conduct surveillance and limiting animal movement.
Any disease within the 10-kilometer radius should be reported by the farm owners to the DA. (RJ Espartinez)