3,065 pigs culled in ASF-hit Payatas so far

Barangay Payatas in Quezon City has culled 3,065 pigs so far in its efforts to curb the African swine fever virus, barangay administrator Florante Clarita said Monday.

The number is much higher than the 1,500 to 2,000 hog population initially reported to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.

“Mga inahin yung baboy nila. Siguro, yung iba, hindi binilang yung bagong anak nilang baboy,” Clarita told GMA News.

“May mangilan-ngilan pa pong natitira, yung mga malalakas na baboy na hindi direktang tinamaan siguro ng virus. Kaya lang, obligado pa rin ho na turukan kasi nga siyempre, gusto na nating ma-eradicate na totally,” he added.

The number of hogs culled includes the estimated 300 heads of pigs reportedly owned by Barangay Captain Manny Guarin.

Clarita clarified that the hogs were now owned by Guarin’s child.

Belmonte earlier called on Guarin to forego claiming the P3,000 financial assistance per live hog surrendered so that the P900,000 that Guarin is estimated to receive could be allotted to his constituents instead.

Guarin, in a phone conversation with GMA News, said he had already filed the paperwork necessary in claiming the money.

He said he intended to use it to pay their farmhands, who lost their jobs to ASF.

The presence of ASF was confirmed in Payatas and Barangay Bagong Silangan last month. Last week, the Quezon City government also confirmed that the virus has been detected in pigs in Barangay Tatalon.

In accordance with the Department of Agriculture's protocols, pigs within a one-kilometer radius of these areas will be culled. — BM, GMA News