March 29, 2024

LAMUT, Ifugao – Mayor Mariano Buyagawan, Jr. has constituted the African Swine Fever Task Force (ASFTF) to safeguard the local swine industry.
Buyagawan said the continuing outbreak of ASF in several provinces in Luzon, including the Cordillera, poses a threat that may lead to the compulsory culling of about 7,000 heads of swine in the town.
The task force is chaired by the mayor with the municipal agriculturist as vice chair with concerned municipal department heads, punong barangays, and the sangguniang bayan committee chair on agriculture as members.
The ASFTF shall temporary ban the entry of live pigs, fresh pork/pork, and products in the municipality and bringing of fresh pork and taking out of food containing pork products by the public. 
It will also ban for the meantime the buying and selling of imported pork in the different barangays including carrying pork products to the municipality by drivers, conductors, and inspectors. It will also direct hog owners to stop swill feeding or feeding of food craps to pigs.
Buyagawan also included in the task force the technical support teams like rapid action team, surveillance team, quarantine team, and census team. – Marcelo B. Lihgawon