STATE OF CALAMITY DECLARED IN TOWNS OF BATANGAS DUE TO ASF OUTBREAK

The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that up to 150 barangays nationwide were affected by the African swine fever (ASF) after the fresh cases in Batangas and Davao. State of calamity was declared in towns of Lobo and Calatagan in Batangas due to the outbreak.

The town of Lobo was the first to declare a state of calamity due to the recorded positive case of ASF followed by the Calatagan following the increase in positive cases of ASF in the area. The Lian local government unit is also studying whether to place the town under a state of calamity as they continue to conduct blood sampling on domestic pigs in the area.

Cases of African swine fever in various areas in the country are increasing, state of calamity declared in Lobo and Calatagan Batangas (Photo courtesy of Philippine Star)

Based on the data from the Batangas Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, seven towns in the province of Batangas are affected by ASF. Last here is the town of San Juan where there is one barangay that recorded a positive case.

By declaring a state of calamity, aid will be extended faster to cater for the farmers who are really affected and to release funds according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

“The local government units may need to declare a state of emergency in these Batangas municipalities to enable the DA to respond swiftly to the situation and release funds for the urgent purchase of vaccines.”

In Davao Occidental, three barangays have been confirmed cases of ASF some pigs have tested positive. According to the provincial government, the affected barangays are San Agustin and Basiawan in Sta. Maria town and Bito in the municipality of Malita. 

In La Union, the DA regional office recorded 48 new ASF cases in Barangay Namtutan, San Fernando City.

The DA said that they are now preparing to conduct an emergency procurement of 10,000 doses of ASF vaccines, and will also provide "industrial lime" to affected hog raisers to treat areas with buried swine. 

Laurel also said that there will be a coordination with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to implement more stringent biosecurity measures, particularly in establishing checkpoints in the province, to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Source: GMA Integrated News 

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