300 pigs culled in ASF-hit barangay in Laurel, Batangas

Authorities have culled around 300 pigs so far in Barangay Molinete in Laurel, Batangas in efforts to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the area.

The Agriculture Office of Laurel is still determining the ASF's area of origin, according to Chino Gaston's Thursday report on 24 Oras.

"Ang ini-insist po namin, baka po 'yung pagka-lockdown, nagkulang lang sa pakain, napabayaan, humina ang resistensya," Laurel Chief Agricultural Officer Antonina Gardiola said.

"Sa ngayon po under, kumbaga, under investigation pa po kung saan talaga. Wala pa po kaming pwedeng isagot kung saan talaga nagmula," she added.

According to the established protocol for ASF, all hogs within the 1-kilometer radius of the ground zero will be culled and buried.

However, some residents have refused to give up their pigs, leading police authorities to enforce strict measures to ensure that no hog will leave the area.

More than 6,000 pigs are raised in Laurel, leading them to be considered a large part of the residents' livelihood, according to the report.

For its part, the Department of Agriculture has offered to buy hogs in the area for P5,000 each.

President Rodrigo Duterte has meanwhile created the National Task Force on Animal-Borne Diseases.

The body aims to counter animal-borne diseases from entering the country as well as to contain and control its spread.

According to Executive Order No. 105, the body will be led by Agriculture Secretary William Dar while Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will be its vice-chair. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News