Hogs in 2 QC barangays test positive for ASF, Belmonte confirms

Samples taken from some hogs in the barangays of Payatas and Bagong Silangan in Quezon City have tested positive for African swine fever (ASF), Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed Friday.

Belmonte told GMA News' Unang Balita that official laboratory results confirmed that the deaths of several hogs in these areas were due to the disease.

It was reported earlier that 900 pigs and piglets in Bagong Silangan have been culled, and that authorities have set up animal quarantine checkpoints.

With the official results, Belmonte said culling and other preventive measures will be undertaken in Barangay Payatas, as well.

"Nakipagusap na'ko sa mga punong barangay at sinabi ko na talagang umabot na sa kanila yung sakit.

"At kailangan, 'yung mga hakbang na ginagawa natin sa Bagong Silangan, gagawin na natin sa Payatas and I have the blessing already of Secretary [William] Dar...to underatake culling in Barangay Payatas," she said.

In the same interview, Belmonte aired the suspicion that the disease may have reached the city due to the disposal of infected pigs into rivers and waterways.

"Well 'yung teorya namin is via creek, kasi nakakonekta yung mga riverways natin all the way to the Marikina River hanggang Montalban at 'yung maaring pagtapon ng mga baboy sa mga creek at sa mga riverways ang siyang naging sanhi na napaabot sa amin dito sa Lungsod ng Quezon ang sakit na ito," Belmonte said.

The mayor has threatened to file charges against those who would be found responsible for the disposal of hogs in waterways.

According to a report on Super Radyo dzBB by Allan Gatus, Belmonte had also scored the officials of Barangay Payatas for supposedly failing to avert the spread of the disease among hogs in the area.

The official emphasized that the impact not only affects local hog raisers, but also the local government who, she said, is using its own funds to compensate raisers for the culled pigs. — Margaret Claire Layug/RSJ, GMA News