Metro Manila cities step up efforts to stop spread of ASF

MANILA, Philippines — Some local government units (LGUs) sprang into action to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in their respective areas.

In a statement on Tuesday, Manila government’s Veterinary Inspection Board said they tightened their monitoring operations in markets and ports against “botcha” and hot meat.

“The Veterinary Inspection Board strengthened its monitoring task force, to check all possible point of entries and distribution channels, including in markets and ports, as well as all cold storage facilities in the City of Manila, especially Tondo and Binondo area,” VIB chief Dr. Nick Santos said.

Santos said they would conduct thorough 24/7 inspections to ensure meat being sold in markets were “fresh, clean and safe for consumption.”

‘Gradual phaseout of piggeries in QC’

In another statement, the local government of Quezon City said they ordered the “gradual phaseout of piggeries” prior to the recovered dead pigs in Barangay Bagong Silangan that tested positive for ASF.

“The local government had already ordered the gradual phase-out of piggeries within the city in keeping with its land-use plan, which does not contain any zones for agricultural purposes,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Belmonte noted that they would offer financial aid and livelihood assistance to affected owners of piggeries.

Belmonte said QC’s Veterinary Office also intensified its monitoring in the city’s major public markets and slaughterhouses, including Commonwealth, Balintawak, Mega Q-Mart and Novaliches to halt the entry of meat infected with ASF and “double dead” meat.

As of Sunday, almost 50 pig carcasses were discovered in Quezon City. Eleven of these pigs already tested positive for ASF.

‘Water inspection’

After recovering 58 dead pigs in Marikina River, the Marikina government and the Laguna Lake Development Authority team took water samples to verify any possible contamination.

Authorities took samples in five areas which are in Roman Garden; Circulo Verde in Eastwood, Quezon City; Barangay Calumpang; Barangay Tumana and Barangay Nangka.

In a separate statement, Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro said the government would file a writ of kalikasan before the Marikina Regional Trial Court following the dumping of dead pigs in the city’s river.

“Magpa-file tayo ng Writ of Kalikasan sa Marikina RTC. Kasi tayo ang aggrieved party sa insidenteng ito. Ang effect kasi ay nasa atin,” Teodoro said.

A writ of kalikasan (nature) is a legal remedy under the Philippine law for persons whose constitutional right to “a balanced and healthful ecology” is violated by an unlawful act or omission of a public official, employee or private individual.

Marikina also banned fishing and other water-related activities while authorities check any possible contamination caused by the dead pigs./ac