PILAR, Bohol – A viral infection has killed 87 pigs in Barangay
San Vicente, Pilar, Bohol, according to the provincial veterinary
officer.
Dr. Stella Marie “Bing” Lapiz, head of the Provincial
Veterinarian Office (PVO), said the reported African Swine
Fever (ASF) virus infestation in Pilar town was a false alarm,
assuring everyone that the situation is now under control.
During the governor’s radio program on Friday at the Capitol,
Lapiz said the infection is already an outbreak in the barangay,
which is more than 7 kilometers from the town center and is a
mountainous part which is close to the forest.
According to Lapiz, out of 87 pigs, 34 of them died and were
buried by the owners before the officials could get there.
They then conducted a contact tracing of the pigs within 100
meters from the dead ones, Lapiz revealed.
They immediately saw that there were 12 pigs that were about
to die, she said.
They conducted a blood test sample and found out that most of
them tested positive for the viral infection, except for four pigs
that were not infected and one pig that was dead but tested
negative, according to Lapiz.
She said they expanded the blood sampling to 500 meters
farther, but no other pig tested positive for the virus.
Lapiz also said that on June 19 and 30, there were pigs that
went out of that barangay and were sold as lechon.
She said that they followed up on the buyers and found out that
those pigs were negative for the virus.
She bared that they sent the blood sample of the pigs in San
Vicente, Pilar, to Manila to find out what kind of virus it was, but
it was not African Swine Fever (ASF).
Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado revealed that the provincial
government will provide financial assistance to the owners of
pigs that were deliberately killed to prevent the spread of the
virus.
He said that they will give P5,000 per termite/botakal, P3,000
per adult pig, and P1,000 per “baktin”.
The governor appealed to the public to immediately report to
the officials if there is any abnormal sickness and death in their
pigs.
He also assured them that the provincial government will do its
best to protect the P6-billion hog industry in Bohol.
LOCKDOWN ORDER
Pilar, Bohol Mayor Engr. Wilson L. Pajo has issued an
executive order to prevent the movement and transport of
swine, pork and pork products at San Vicente, Pilar, which has
been identified as the place with suspected or confirmed cases
of African swine fever (ASF).
The executive order, which was released on July 28, 2023,
states that no swine, pork, pork meat, pork products and other
pork derivatives shall be moved or transported to and from the
barangay of San Vicente, Pilar, to control any potential
outbreak of ASF.
The order also establishes an infected/quarantine zone in the
barangay and directs the implementation of an action plan for
the prevention and control of ASF under the direction of the
ASF Municipal Executive Committee and the Provincial ASF
Task Force.
The enforcement of the order shall be done by the ASF
Municipal Executive Committee together with the Philippine
National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, barangay
local government officials concerned and barangay tanods.
Pajo also allocated funds for the purpose of implementing the
order.
The executive order is consistent with the existing laws,
ordinances and regulations, such as the Provincial Ordinance
No. 2022-11 entitled “The Revised Bohol African Swine Fever
Prevention Ordinance of 2022,” as amended, and the Provincial
Executive Order No. 37, Series of 2023 entitled “Preventing the
movement and transport of swine, pork, and pork products
outside of areas identified as having suspected or confirmed
cases of African Swine Fever (ASF).”
Major Pajo urged the residents of San Vicente, Pilar, to
cooperate with the authorities and follow the health protocols to
prevent the spread of ASF in their area.
He also assured them that the municipal government will
provide assistance and support to the affected hog raisers.