Laoag City—In efforts
to safeguard the hog industry from economic loss, the Provincial Veterinary
Office (PVet) is pleased to inform that Ilocos Norte remains free from the
African Swine Fever (ASF) disease.
“Half of the provinces in Northern Luzon are ASF-affected. Ilocos
Norte is one of the few provinces that are still safe from ASF including Ilocos
Sur, Apayao, and four other provinces,” provincial government veterinarian Dr.
Loida Valenzuela remarked.
On March 2, 2020, the Bureau of Animal Industry reported that the
provinces of Cagayan, Kalinga, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, and
Isabela in Northern Luzon have been hit with the highly contagious and deadly
swine disease.
Since the occurrence of ASF in the country, the Ilocos Norte provincial
government has imposed temporary restrictions on the entry of live hogs, frozen
hog semen, and pork products from ASF-hit provinces.
Moreover, PVet is constantly coordinating with the city or
municipal meat inspectors and livestock coordinators in monitoring hog farms,
slaughterhouses, wet markets, and groceries for proper meat inspection.
Dr. Valenzuela also assured the sustained supply of pork products
in the province, saying: “I am happy to say that we are still ASF-free and we
are patronizing our own products. Iyon ang importante. Hindi tayo
nag-aangkat ng karneng baboy para sa mga Ilocano.”
“ASF is everybody’s concern. Kaya kung may suspected cases
sa mga lugar ninyo, i-report kaagad para sa ganoon ay hindi
tayo matamaan ng ASF. Iwasan din nating bumili o mag-alaga ng mga baboy
na hindi natin alam kung saan nanggaling. At kung maaari, iwasan nating
ipa-kain ang ating mga food scraps,” she reminded hog raisers.
“Patuloy ang ating pagbantay laban sa pagpasok ng ASF sa
ating probinsya. Kaya inaasahan namin ang suporta at tulong ng iba’t-ibang
local government units at barangay officials para sa ating adbokasiya,”
Dr. Valenzuela ended. (Blessing Angel V. Agliam)
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