Balbalan, Kalinga still on high alert against ASF-infected hogs, pork products

Balbalan, Kalinga – Being only 29 kilometers away from Abra, Balbalan continues to enforce tight and strict measures to pre-empt the entry of the African Swine Fever(ASF) in the municipality and in the province.

The province of Abra is one of the latest areas stricken by the swine disease which affected hog raisers in early July.

It could be recalled that the Kalinga Provincial Local Government Unit temporarily banned the entry of live hogs and pork meat products from Abra in July this year. This is after at least 200 hogs reportedly died within a week due to suspected ASF in Manabo, Abra.

A month since the order from the province, the Municipal Local Government Unit of Balbalan through the leadership of Mayor Almar Malannag continues to guard the boarders from pigs and pork products being transported from Abra to Balbalan.

Currently, the authorities are manning four checkpoints – one in Balbalan Proper, another in Poblacion, then in Talalang, and one in Balbalasang area.

“Haan mi palabasen ditoy Balbalan iti baboy nga nagapu idiay Abra tatta,” Malannag reminded, emphasizing that they will send people travelling hogs and meat from Abra back to where they came from even when they are already at the border of Balbalan.

The mayor added that as for the hogs intended for weddings, wake, and other occasions, the public must secure certification first from the Municipal Agriculture Office to ensure that the pigs are not infected with ASF.

According to the mayor, no pigs were reported to have died of ASF in Balbalan yet.