1,191 pigs from the towns of Pulilan and Pandi both in Bulacan have been selectively slaughtered after confirmation that they were afflicted with the African swine fever (ASF) virus.
Infected hogs from Barangays Inaon, Tabon, Balatong A, Balatong B, Tinejero and Dulong Malabon in Pulilan total 1,000 bared Mayor Ma. Rosario “Maritz” Ochoa-Montejo.
In Pandi, Bulacan, Mayor Enrico Roque revealed that a total of 191 hogs were de-populated at the Corpus Farm owned by May Gonzalez after laboratory results of the swine blood yielded positive with ASF.
Acting municipal agriculture officer of Pandi, Elsie Angeles, pointed out that this was contrary to the owner’s claim on television that her livestock was negative for ASF and that her swine were slaughtered using a backhoe.
“The culled animals were electrocuted and not crushed by a backhoe before being thrown in a pit,” Angeles clarified.
Meanwhile up north in Isabela, police intercepted at least 44 kilograms of suspected infected and undocumented pork meat along the national highway in San Mateo, Isabela.
“The seized meat were buried for safety and security reasons as we had subsisting swine entry ban while agriculture officials and local government units have been monitoring the checkpoints,” bared Dr. Roberto Busania, regional technical director for operations and extension services of the Department of Agriculture in Cagayan Valley region.
Quarantine checkpoints for all animals in both provinces are now being strictly enforced, together with the regular testing of blood samples from suspected livestock. (Jojo Mangahis)