Ifugao bans entry of pigs and pork products in province

The provincial government of Ifugao is on lockdown against the dreaded African swine fever.
Last week, Ifugao Gov. Jerry Dalipog issued Executive Order 14 declaring a temporary lockdown on the entry of live pigs, fresh pork, and frozen pork in the province to manage and prevent the entry of ASF.
The entry of live pigs and meat products will not be allowed until further notice from the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture assuring the safety of the swine industry in the province
The Kiangan Municipal Agriculture Office reported there are 65 dead pigs recorded in the town that exhibited the symptoms of the ASF. Blood samples were taken and is currently up for confirmation for the cause of death.
In Kalinga, samples earlier taken from Barangay Lubo in Tanudan and barangays San Julian and Bulanao Centro of Tabuk City tested positive of the ASF virus.
DA Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey said no depopulation has been conducted yet in the province as all the affected pigs have died.
“We have asked the LGUs to beef up their biosecurity measures and that’s what they are doing now,” Odsey said.
He added that DA and the LGU will continuously monitor the commercial hog raisers to implement their biosecurity measures while the 1-7-10 protocol will be implemented for backyard hog raisers. 
Odsey said they met with concerned officials of the affected areas in Benguet and Kalinga for them to beef up their measures against the spread of ASF virus
Meanwhile, Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas issued EO 2020-11 lifting his earlier order banning the entry of live pigs in the province to stop the possible spread of ASF virus.
“After the intensive and tremendous effort of the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Tuba and La Trinidad and concerned barangays in conducting depopulation of ASF-affected pigs as well as disease surveillance and information and education campaign in Tuba and La Trinidad, the possible spread of ASF in these areas is assumed to be kept under control,” Diclas said.
The Animal Disease Diagnostic Reference Laboratory of the Bureau of Animal Industry reported that the submitted samples taken from suspected infected pigs were positive of the ASF virus.
The Provincial Veterinarian revealed 532 pigs were depopulated and 37 hog raisers were affected in the province.
Office of the Provincial Veterinarian chief Miriam Tiongan said they have finished the depopulation of the affected pigs and they are currently undergoing disinfection of the affected swine farms. – Ofelia C. Empian