More areas in Ilocos Norte heighten watch vs ASF

Border control checkpoints set up against African swine fever. File Photo

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—Two towns and another city in Ilocos Norte province have set up stringent border protocols to prevent the entry of African swine fever (ASF) into their areas.

In Solsona, the first town in the province to detect ASF last year, Mayor Joseph de Lara issued an executive order mandating the installation in the town beginning July 22 of checkpoints on all possible entry points for the delivery of hogs.

De Lara also ordered the temporary suspension of entry and exit of live hogs and frozen meat in the town. The mayor also imposed a ban on the backyard slaughtering of hogs.

In the nearby Dingras, Mayor Joeffrey Saguid also regulated the movement of hogs in the town and strictly prohibited the entry of live hogs from ASF-infected areas.

In Batac City, an executive order was issued requiring certifications from agriculturists and veterinarians and meat inspection certificates for entry of live hogs and pork products to be supplied or sold in the city.

The city government also established several checkpoints in at least 10 areas to keep the virus at bay.

The capital city of Laoag had earlier set up control and checkpoints on July 20 to keep the city free from ASF.

Solsona, Dingras, and the cities of Laoag and Batac are currently under a “pink (buffer) zone.” INQ

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