Calanasan bans swine importation to safeguard town amid ASF threats

Calanasan, Apayao - Municipal Mayor Shamir M. Bulut of Calanasan town in Apayao issued Executive Order No. 10, series of 2024, on Monday, February 5.

The order implements a temporary ban on the importation of live swine, pork meat, and pork-based products to ensure the health and safety of residents and locally raised swine in the municipality.

The African Swine Flu (ASF) is a high-impact transboundary animal disease (TAD) with no known vaccine or cure to date. Its continued presence affects the swine production sector, resulting in industry reduction and impacting both livelihoods and the agricultural economy.

This proactive declaration aligns with the Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Order No. 07, series of 2021, which provides implementing guidelines for the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” program. This program aims to foster the active involvement of Local Government Units in combating the rampant spread of African Swine Flu.

Based on a recent report from the DA-Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Tuguegarao City, a confirmed case of ASF was detected in Conner, Apayao, a source from which most meat vendors in Calanasan import live swine and meat products. Consequently, the Office of Agricultural Services (OAS) recommended a local-wide temporary ban.

In accordance with the memorandum order, Mayor Bulut has instructed the police, OAS personnel, and barangay officials to strictly and effectively enforce and monitor its implementation within their jurisdictions. Personnel have been directed to deploy to every entrance and checkpoint across the municipality.

Non-compliance with this directive will be subject to further investigation and inspection either at the OAS or at the Office of the Municipal Mayor.

As of writing and for the year 2023, no cases have been reported in the municipality, as conveyed by an OAS staff in an interview.

Mayor Bulut urges constituents to honestly relay any instances of early signs and symptoms to authorities for the implementation of appropriate control measures.