The Provincial Government of Basilan has issued an executive order imposing a temporary ban on the entry and exit of all live pigs in Lamitan City after several pigs tested positive for the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said the blood samples of at least eight pigs in Barangays Bulingan, Buahan, and Calugusan tested positive for ASF.

“According to the City Veterinary of Lamitan, nagsimula raw sa Brgy. Look pero ipagpapatuloy ang investigation kasi kailangan namin makolektahan ng dugo for conservatory test. Dati naman, free ang Basilan pero hindi natin masabi paano nakapasok kasi yung virus,” PVO Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Sharmin Tuttuh, said.

PVO is also monitoring other towns to prevent the spread of ASF.

Under the executive order, the transport, entry, exit, and movement of all live pigs and pork-related products and by-products in the city are banned to prevent the threat of ASF.

The executive order also says that hotels, restaurants, and other food establishments within the province are directed to ensure that table leftovers or food wastes/pigswill shall be properly disposed of and shall not be given to swine raisers as feeds for their pigs.

Pig raisers are also ordered to report any suspicious incidence of mortality in pigs to their respective veterinary office.

Buying of live pigs and pork products from Lamitan City is also discouraged.

“Ngayon kasi, waiting ang province sa action taken ng City Government of Lamitan. Magpapatawag kami ng meeting together with municipal agricultural officers. I advised them na hindi dapat bumili ng mga baboy galing Lamitan,” Tuttuh added.