DA deploys ‘Super Pig’ mascot to raise awareness about African swine fever

Photo from the Department of Agriculture’s website

MANILA, Philippines — To raise awareness on African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said that it will use an information campaign with mascots, one representing a pig and another a doctor.

The information campaign is dubbed the “Ang Bagong Hamon kay Super Pig (New Challenge to Super Pig)” Tour and was launched in the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange on Tuesday.

“Sini-symbolize ni Super Pig ‘yong robust swine industry po natin na tinutulungan po nating makabangon. Si Dr. V, sinisimbolo naman po niya ang responsableng beterinaryo na may integridad, nagre-report ‘pag mayroon siyang nakitang sakit ng baboy o iba pang sakit, at nilalabanan ang ASF,” shared DA-Bureau of Animal Industry Deputy Program Coordinator Samuel Joseph Castro.

(Super Pig symbolizes the robust swine industry we are trying to help revive. Dr. V symbolizes responsible veterinarians with integrity that reports if pigs are observed to be infected or ill with other diseases and fighting ASF.)

While ASF is not dangerous to humans, it is a highly contagious disease among pigs and has a 100 percent mortality rate, said the DA, citing data from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

At present, Castro said that ASF had been detected in 11 regions. He assured, however, that the DA is enforcing strict monitoring and surveillance of the swine industry to contain the disease.

The DA’s tour of the mascots will span markets nationwide to inform the public about ASF.

“Nandito po kami ngayon para ipaalala po sa ating lahat na lahat po tayo ay mayroong magagawa laban sa ASF—kung ikaw po ay farmer, livestock inspectors, mga kasamahan po natin sa City Veterinary Offices, mga official po natin sa national government at local government, at napakaimportante, lahat po tayo ay consumers—lahat po tayo ay may responsibilidad at may magagawa laban sa ASF,” Castro said.

(We are here to remind everyone that something can be done against ASF— if you are a farmer,  livestock inspector, allies from the City Veterinary Offices, local and national government officials, and most importantly, all of us as consumers, we all have a responsibility and ability to fight ASF.)

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JPV/abc