Dead piglets found in irrigation canal in Malolos, Bulacan

Dead piglets were found mixed with garbage, this time in an irrigation canal in Malolos, Bulacan, amid continuous effort to avert the spread of the African swine fever in the country .

Thirteen piglets were found by residents in Barangay Tikay at around 7 a.m. on Friday, said a 24 Oras report by Sandra Aguinaldo.

Barangay officials said some of the piglets were newborn while others are still in placentas. Pig entrails were also found in the canal.

“Meron po noong nakaraan paisa-isa lang. Iba po ngayon eh, ngayon po sobrang, masyadong marami naitapon nilang patay na baboy... Hahanapin po namin talaga kung sino ang may sala nitong pagtatapon po ng basura na ito ng mga patay na hayop po,”Brgy. Tikay kagawad Roberto Hernandez said.

The bloated carcasses were picked up one by one then placed in sacks, to be buried by the local government.

Barangay Tikay is one kilometer away from Barangay Pritil, Guiguinto, Bulacan, which is considered to be ground zero of ASF.

Barangay Pritil has already been quarantined, and officials said they would also conduct inspection of backyard piggeries in their area.

Some residents were dismayed at the sight of trash and dead swine in the irrigation canal whose water come from Bustos Dam.

“Pagka walang nakakakita itinatapon diyan, ke baboy ke manok. Huwag naman na kayong magtapon, ibaon ninyo,” resident Tomasa San Pedro said.

“Siyempre ang tubig delikado, kung saan-saan sumusuot 'yan. Eh 'di 'yung bacteria niyan sumasama kung saan-saan,”said resident Eufrocina Madulid said.

The cause of death of the piglets is not yet clear.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar expressed concern over the incidents of dead hogs found floating in rivers and creeks in Marikina, Quezon City and Bulacan.

Dar said it was possible that hog raisers hid the sick swine, then threw them away when they died.

"Maki-cooperate po tayo, yung mga backyard hog raisers, otherwise, pinapalala natin ang problema. We are spreading the virus and this is what is happening dumping these dead pigs in the river. Mahirap po 'yun." Dar said.

The department sought for the cooperation of hog raisers to inform them immediately of their sick swine, as unburied dead pigs would be dangerous to human health.

The agency will also issue a P30,000 loan for every hog raiser affected by the ASF, adding that they could also approach the Provincial Veterinary Office.

Provincial Veterinary Office officials arrived at 6 p.m. and took one sack containing a hog carcass for examination, as well as samples of water from the irrigation canal. —LDF, GMA News