Solsona crafts measures to fight ASF

Solsona Sangguniang Bayan members Jonathan De Lara (standing right) and Nestor Dela Cruz (standing left) discus with the other council members the proposed municipal ordinance prescribing omnibus guidelines on the implementation of preventive measure against ASF in Solsona as Solsona Vice Mayor and SB presiding officer Bob G. Sacro (seated center) and other SB members listen. The said measure was approved in its third and final reading in the regular session and was authored by De Lara. (Doms Dela Cruz )

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Solsona, Ilocos Norte—With the imminent African Swine Fever (ASF) threat to the hog industry of here, members of the Sangguniang Bayan unanimously approved an ordinance prescribing omnibus guidelines in the implementation of preventive measures against this virus with accompanying penalties to those who would not abide by them.

In order to arrest the negative economic impact brought by ASF, Sangguniang Bayan member Jonathan De Lara said there is an urgent need for local course of action to be implemented in order to prevent the spread of this disease in the entire Solsona.

De Lara explained that the measure aims to prescribe the basic policies and guidelines to effect the strict implementation of preventive measures such as but not limited to temporary prohibition of the entry and exit of live swine, pork products and by-products with the purpose of containing the spread of ASF not only in Solsona but also to their neighboring towns.

In addition, De Lara added that this protects the livestock and hog industries, and other related businesses from any possible economic losses, and to further advance the health and safety of the people.

Relative to this, the municipal government put up checkpoints on all entrance and exit points for the delivery of swine—outbound and inbound—to the municipality and with an advisory from the National Zoning and Movement Plan in order to contain, manage and control the possible ASF spread.

He stressed that any live hogs, fresh and frozen swine/pork and pork products flagged down in checkpoints shall be confiscated and surrendered to the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO).

In the guidelines, containment zones were also categorized with its respective movement protocols: “Red Zone” (Infected Zone), which includes barangays with confirmed cases; “Pink Zone” (Buffer Zone), which includes barangays adjacent to the Red Zone, which is ASF free but subject to the inspection/approval of the municipal agriculture office; “Yellow Zone” (Surveillance Zone), which is considered as high risk area because of the dense population of swine and volume of trade of swine, pork products and by-products; “Light Green Zone” (Protected Zone) are areas with no ASF cases but are contiguous with the Yellow Zone in terms of landmass; and “Dark Green” (Free Zone) areas, which remains free from the ASF virus.

De Lara also stated that on-site butchering/slaughtering should only be allowed on pink and yellow zones after compliance with the requirements set.

For burial sites of culled hogs, De Lara said this should be preferably on-site or within the 500-meter radius and be determined by the punong barangay with the approval and supervision of the MENRO, Sanitary Inspector, MDRRMO, and MAO.

All mode of transport used by the local pork industry should follow and conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of their vehicles.

A Municipal African Swine Task Force was also created to implement the ASF protection program.

The councilor disclosed that anyone who violates the ordinance shall be fined not more than PHP2,500 per swine.

Relative to this, SB member Benigno L. Aquino also passed a measure requesting DA Secretary William Dar for the extension period of indemnity coverage for ASF-affected hog raisers in this municipality and which was also unanimously approved.

The Ilocos Times also learned that the council also approved a series of resolutions presided by Solsona Vice Mayor Bobby Sacro in the fight against ASF.

The council move, Sacro said, simply means the Sangguniang Bayan is doing their best in order to help curtail the spread of ASF in the municipality since the start. They are also acting to help the affected hog raisers.

SB records show that the council has already approved at least 12 resolutions and one ordinance pertaining to ASF in the municipality.

Solsona Mayor Joseph De Lara, for in his part, said his office is continuously coordinating with the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Department of Agriculture (DA) relative to the ASF in Solsona and its immediate containment.

The mayor noted that all actions taken, including the culling of swine were based on the DA decision, whose representatives from the region personally came over to personally see the present situation in Solsona.

As of July 12, 2021 municipal agriculture officer Ranieson Narciso said they have culled 1,494 hogs affecting 228 hog raises from Brgys. Manalpac, Maan-anteng, Catangraran, Lipay and Sta. Ana, which is the last affected barangay.

Narciso also mentioned that they collect blood samples which they submit to the PVET for laboratory testing in Pangasinan. In this regard, he said he hopes the DA will soon establish a laboratory for ASF testing in Dingras soon.

“Dagitoy mat-matay a baboy ket madlaw payla a nasalun-at da a kitkitaen then the following day ket agmamayo’n ken sumaruno nga aldawen ket matayen. Didiay iti kaalisto na ti epekto iti sakit nga ASF no man pay awan laboratory samples na a makuna ngem dagidiay iti symptoms ti ASF,” Narciso narrated.

He also explained that hog raisers who failed to enroll their hogs for insurance before June 7, 2021, when Solsona became a “Red Zone” are no longer qualified for the insurance from the Philippine Crop Insurance.

If insured, hog raisers will receive cash incentives as categorized based from the hog ages: 45 days and up, PHP10,000 with a separate amount if breeder and a fattener, while an indemnity fund to be given by the DA in the amount of PHP5,000 is still on process.

As of press time, Narciso disclosed that only Brgy. Sta. Ana is now being monitored unlike the other affected barangays, which are now contained with the help of the barangay officials, hog raisers, PVET, municipal officials headed by Mayor De Lara and everybody as “this is everybody’s concern.”