Agriculture Secretary William Dar has ordered the strict implementation of veterinary quarantine measures against the African swine fever (ASF), in partnership with local government units (LGUs) and concerned national agencies, following the confirmation of ASF cases in Mindanao.
“I am directing the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and other concerned agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement the establishment of the checkpoints on 24/7 operations with disinfection equipment and facilities, including foot baths, in all entry points in Mindanao,” Dar said in a memorandum.
“There will be mandatory inspection of vessels docking in Mindanao ports with meat products from ASF-affected zones and countries.”
The agriculture chief said there will be mandatory inspection of vessels with meat products from ASF-affected zones and countries after docking in Mindanao ports
The agriculture head said the establishment of 24/7 quarantine checkpoints and mandatory inspection at international and domestic seaports and airports will be done in close coordination with the LGUs, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Checked-in and hand-carried luggage of all incoming passengers from ASF-affected zones and countries will also be thoroughly inspected by DA-BAI veterinary quarantine personnel who will confiscate and immediately destroy all pork products.
Meanwhile, Dar urged the country’s veterinarians to help the DA and LGUs in the strong and sustained implementation of biosecurity and quarantine measures to control ASF and cushion its impact on the country’s hog-raising industry.
Dar made the call during the 87th PVMA Scientific Conference and Convention recently in Davao City, where he served as keynote speaker.
“We ask you to remain steadfast in your commitment to share and disseminate information, trends and issues in the field of veterinary medicine, both here and abroad, especially with regards to ASF and other traditional and emerging animal diseases,” he told the over 2,000 attendees and guests of the event.
To date, the Philippines has culled 230,000 hogs or 1.8 percent of the of the 12.7 million national swine population.
Of these, only 15 percent were ASF-infected and the rest were healthy. However, all of the hogs were culled, as they were within the 1-kilometer infected zone, under the “1-7-10 protocol.”
“Our total culled pigs is minimal compared to other neighboring ASF-affected countries.”
“However, our total culled pigs is minimal compared to other neighboring ASF-affected countries,” Dar said.
In its latest report, the World Organization for Animal Health or OIE said Vietnam has culled 5.9 million pigs, while China had culled 1.2 million.
The DA, in partnership with the swine industry players and veterinary groups, is considering to modify the prevailing 1-7-10 protocol, decreasing the coverage of the infected zone to only 500- meter radius, and only infected pigs will be culled while the healthy ones will be separated, quarantined, and observed.
“The private commercial farms have assured us that they have enough supply of pork and pork products for the entire 2020,” he said.
“We are constantly meeting with key hog industry leaders, who assured us that they are increasing their stocks,” Dar concluded.