QC Mayor Belmonte confirms African swine fever cases in Tatalon

More cases of African swine fever have been detected in Quezon City, with Tatalon being the third barangay to be confirmed positive for the presence of the virus.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte told reporters on Tuesday that they have actually already been culling pigs in the barangay.

“Noong Thursday pa, ni-report na sa amin na may isang baboy na nakita sa loob ng isang sako sa kalsada ng Tatalon. Actually, as early as Friday morning, alam na namin na positive ang Tatalon. As early as Saturday morning, nag-cull na kami sa Tatalon,” she said.

Hogs from Barangays Bagong Silangan and Payatas had earlier been confirmed to have ASF.

Sixty-two of the 82 hogs in Tatalon have already been culled. The remaining 20 will be killed on Tuesday.

“Maki-clear o mako-contain na yung ASF sa Barangay Tatalon,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte earlier acknowledged that the Department of Agriculture had reproached her for announcing swine fever cases instead of waiting for it to do so.

Belmonte had also earlier warned hog raisers that they will face charges for improper disposal of dead hogs.

But she is making an exception for hog raisers in Tatalon, saying they had not been informed.

“Hindi naman din namin sila nakausap sa Tatalon e. It’s more of Payatas and Bagong Silangan,” she said.

The Quezon City government has been compensating hog raisers for the loss of their livestock, giving then P3,000 for each mature hog killed and P1,500 for each piglet.

Belmonte believes the number one reason for the spread of ASF in the city is swill feeding because food waste from hotels, airlines and restaurants are taken to Payatas to be segregated.

The DA had warned the public not to buy food waste from these establishments as the virus could have been spread in this manner.

1-7-10

Following the DA's 1-7-10 protocol, all hogs within a one-kilometer radius from Tatalon will be culled, said Belmonte.

She added that this will include hogs in Barangay Roxas, even though the area has not had any "manifestations" of the disease.

Culling will also be conducted in Barangay Pasong Tamo, where possible ASF symptoms are being monitored.

“The hog owners themselves decided, with the encouragement of the punong barangay, to have their pigs culled as well,” Belmonte said.

Samples have been taken in Pasong Tamo but results have not yet been released. — BM, GMA News