Carcar, Cebu officials feast on lechon to show ASF spread under control

Several officials from Carcar City, Cebu, feasted on lechon and other pork dishes to show they have controlled the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the area.
 
“Tatlong mga barangay lang ang identified na may ASF. Sa tatlong barangay, isang sitio lang ang affected,” Carcar City veterinarian Mary Ann Gabona said in Bernadette Reyes’ report on “24 Oras” on Friday.
 
(Only three barangays have ASF, of which one sitio was affected.)
 
On Tuesday, the city veterinary office said three barangays in Carcar were put under a state of calamity due to ASF. At least 600 pigs needed to be culled in the affected areas, with one hog raiser saying he would lose around P300,000 due to the culling.

The Cebu provincial government had ordered a stop to the culling of hogs in ASF-affected areas in the province, saying they would come up with their “own policies” to curb the spread of the viral disease.

Meanwhile, local authorities seized at least 30 kilograms of pork products in a port in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, as part of their measures to control ASF and safeguard the province’s P6-billion hog industry.
 
Entry of pork supplies from other areas is still banned.
 
“Pero ang feeds kinoconsider makapasok basta galing sa 'pink' area 'yung nasa recovery stage na ng ASF,” said Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado.
 
(We allow feeds to enter as long as they came from "pink areas" or those that are in the recovery stage.)
 
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is handing out flyers to strengthen its information drive on the spread of ASF.

“Iwasan na natin pagbitbit even by-products, whether cooked or not. Wag na natin dalhin from island to island kasi mahirap pag nag-spread,” said DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez. 
 
(We should avoid bringing even the by-products, whether cooked or not. Let us not bring it island to island because it would be difficult if it spread further.)  — Sundy Locus/VBL, GMA Integrated News