The provincial government of Bohol has lifted the publicly-condemned checkpoints at the entry and exit points of Panglao Island as of May 3, 2024, according to an announcement made during the Capitol Reports program.

The announcement was made by program host Raul Gatal, who cautioned the public that the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF) remains.

According to Aumentado, the checkpoint, despite causing numerous miseries to the public, was aimed at protecting the P8-billion hog industry in the province.

This comes after Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued an executive order on April 18, 2024, implementing checkpoints and banning the transport of pork and pork products from Panglao Island to mainland Bohol for 30 days.

Despite the ongoing threat, reports indicate that the infection has been contained, with no new ASF incidents reported.

The disease has resulted in the death of no less than 80 pigs, with several others culled as part of the containment process.

PUBLIC ANGER AND DISGUST

The African Swine Fever (ASF), a relentless plague upon the swine population, has forced the provincial government to take drastic measures.

The once free-flowing traffic between the island of Panglao and mainland Bohol has been choked by the establishment of stringent checkpoints, aimed at halting the spread of ASF.

The checkpoints, while a necessary evil, have become a source of profound misery for the residents and tourists.

The daily commute, once a trivial part of life, has turned into a tedious ordeal.

Motorists and commuters are subjected to long queues as vigilant police officers inspect every vehicle, looking for any signs of contraband pork products.

The air was thick with frustration as plans are disrupted and schedules are thrown into disarray.

For the local hog raisers, the checkpoints are more than just an inconvenience; they are a death knell for their livelihood.

The ban on the transport of live hogs and pork products has effectively isolated them from their main markets.

Desperation hangs heavy as they watch their once-thriving businesses crumble, with no end to the restrictions in sight.

The checkpoints have also cast a pall over the cultural fabric of the communities.

Festivals and gatherings, which once celebrated the abundance of local produce, now serve as stark reminders of the ongoing crisis. The communal joy has been replaced by a collective anxiety about the future.

Despite the clear necessity of these measures to protect the larger swine industry of Bohol, the question remains: at what cost?

The checkpoints, while successful in containing the disease, have also contained the spirit of the people, trapping them in a cycle of uncertainty and hardship.

As the days passed, the people of Dauis and Panglao could only hope for a resolution that will lift the checkpoints and restore their way of life.

For days they endured, caught between the fight against ASF and the fight to maintain their dignity amidst the chaos.

LATE REPORTING

Provincial Veterinarian Stella Maris Lapiz expressed regret over the late reporting of the disease, which she said made it difficult to contain the problem and conduct contact tracing.

Reports suggest that there were pigs already showing symptoms as early as February 2024, but these were only reported in the middle of April 2024.

Significant step towards the potential lifting of border controls in Panglao and Tagbilaran City has been made as 182 swine blood samples from Dauis tested negative for African Swine Fever (ASF), according to Dr. Anthony Damalerio, head of the province’s disaster and risk reduction management office.

The samples, collected last week by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), were sent to Cebu and returned with negative results.

However, Damalerio noted that there is another batch of samples still awaiting results, with the quantity of these samples currently unknown.

The outcome of these pending tests could have a significant impact on the province, Damalerio said.

If these tests also return negative, it could lead to the lifting of the border control currently in place at the entry and exit points of Panglao and Tagbilaran City, he said before the border control measure was abolished yesterday.

“The results of the latest batch of blood samples would be a factor in deciding whether or not the border control would be lifted,” said Damalerio.

He also added that the border control might continue if the latest batch of samples turns out to be positive for ASF.

The situation remains fluid as authorities await these crucial results, he noted.

EXECUTIVE ORDER

Aumentado announced that the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) had been successfully contained within the affected barangays of Dauis, with no further cross-contamination to neighboring areas.

The announcement came during a press conference with Bohol media yesterday afternoon.

Aumentado, who chairs the ASF Provincial Task Force, reported negative blood test results from samples collected by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian and the Department of Agriculture.

These samples were taken from pigs in proximity to the barangays of Biking, Mariveles, and Mayacabac, where the deadly swine disease had previously struck.

In light of these developments, Governor Aumentado revealed that the One Entry, One Exit Policy, a border control measure, might be reinstated anytime soon to prevent ASF from spreading to mainland Bohol.

He also mentioned that he would be issuing a new Executive Order to reinforce the policy implemented by the provincial government to control and prevent ASF from spreading.

ASF ZONING STATUS

Gov. Aumentado has issued Executive Order No. 17, Series of 2024, reclassifying the African Swine Fever (ASF) zoning status in the municipality of Dauis.

The order aims to strengthen the containment and surveillance measures in the area to prevent further spread of the disease.

The ASF Inter-Agency Task Force has implemented the established protocol, including the depopulation of pigs and regular disinfection within the infected premises/puroks, as well as conducting surveillance and collecting blood samples for laboratory testing.

The Department of Agriculture 7-Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has released the laboratory results, showing the absence of the ASF virus in certain barangays.

The order reclassifies Purok Five (5) of Barangay Mayacabac and Purok Two (2) of Mariveles as infected premises/puroks, while the barangay of Biking, the barangay of Mayacabac except Purok Five (5), and the barangay of Mariveles except Purok Two (2) are reclassified from ASF Quarantine-Level 1 to ASF Quarantine Level 2.

The protocol for Quarantine Area-Level 2 includes continuous information, education, and communication in the municipality of Dauis, continuous disease surveillance, and random collection of blood samples for ASF testing.

Additionally, movement of pigs of all ages from the municipality of Dauis requires ASF negative test, livestock inspection certificate, and barangay certification as to the source of the pig.

Pigs shall undergo ASF rapid testing to certify the absence of ASF infection before slaughter.

The Bohol ASF Inter-Agency Task Force, Municipal LGU of Dauis, and Barangay LGUs of Dauis shall establish mechanisms to implement the protocol and activities mentioned, which shall be effective for a period of 30 days from the issuance of the order.

The existing border checkpoints established as a result of Executive Order No. 13, Series of 2024, shall be lifted accordingly.

Puroks and barangays in the municipality of Dauis which later are found to have active cases of ASF through RT-PCR confirmatory laboratory testing by the Department of Agriculture-Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory shall automatically be upgraded to ASF Infected Area and shall follow the protocol provided in Executive Order No. 15, Series of 2024.

The enforcement of the Executive Order shall be consistent with existing laws, ordinances, and regulations, and the implementation shall be ensured by the Barangay LGUs of Dauis, the Municipal LGU of Dauis, the Provincial Government of Bohol, and the members of the Bohol African Swine Fever Inter-Agency Task Force.

The Department of Interior and Local Government – Provincial Office is tasked to ensure the implementation of the Executive Order.