DA to set up Luzon checkpoints to combat spread of ASF

Agence France-Presse file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday announced that livestock checkpoints will be set up in Luzon to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF).

“The checkpoints are a temporary measure while the government awaits the arrival of ASF vaccines, a process that could take a few weeks,” said the DA in a statement. 

 Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry Dr. Constante Palabrica stressed that the checkpoints will be set up to assure that no diseased hogs or other animals will be transferred from one place to another.

READ: Batangas town under state of calamity due to ASF

“We have set up additional livestock quarantines and will keep it there at least until December,” Palabrica said. 

Lobo town in Batangas was placed under a state of calamity due to the spread of ASF, with at least 16 out of 26 barangays reporting cases of ASF.

READ: ASF vaccine ready for government use by September – DA

The town logged 8,818 animal deaths as of July 31, while the impact of the swine fever on hog raisers while markets losses amounted toP103,338,000.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that the DA has the resources to respond to the ASF outbreak, including procurement of vaccines and emergency funds for hog raisers.

 “We have the funds to procure the vaccines and the emergency funds to indemnify hog raisers adversely affected by the resurgence of the AS virus,” said Tiu Laurel.