Solsona: The municipal government of Solsona in Ilocos Norte has intensified its efforts against African Swine Fever (ASF) by enforcing a ban on the entry of pork products and related food items from other towns and provinces, effective Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lawyer Alfonso Jeziel de los Reyes, the municipal legal officer and information officer designate of Solsona, confirmed the implementation of the ban following an emergency meeting of the Municipal African Swine Fever Task Force on Tuesday. The task force, which includes village officials, members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and local meat vendors, agreed to reinforce measures to protect the town’s livestock industry, which is in the process of recovering from an ASF outbreak four years ago.
De los Reyes emphasized the importance of strictly enforcing Municipal Ordinance No. 2021-643, known as the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Preventive Measures Against African Swine Fever, alo
ng with other relevant provincial and national policies. Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara had previously issued Executive Orders No. 14 and No. 15 s. 2021, establishing the Municipal African Swine Fever Task Force and prohibiting the trade of wild pigs.
Before the ASF outbreak, Executive Order No. 72 s. 2019 was issued to temporarily ban backyard slaughtering until the disease was fully controlled. Municipal data indicated that over 1,000 pigs, valued at around PHP5.8 million, were culled in Solsona in 2021, impacting numerous local hog raisers.
In response to the crisis, the Ilocos Norte government and the municipal government of Solsona have provided livelihood assistance to affected hog raisers. Additionally, a compensation of PHP5,000 per culled pig is being offered, pending the submission of complete documents to the Department of Agriculture’s Quick Response Fund, according to Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela.
ASF-affected pigs exhibit high fever, distinct reddish areas on the skin, and inter
nal bleeding, which can lead to death within two to ten days. Mayor de Lara urged the community to remain vigilant, stressing that ASF prevention is a shared responsibility between the government and the public. Dr. Valenzuela also reminded the public to cooperate with local authorities to prevent ASF from spreading.
Breeders from accredited ASF-free farms and piglets for the government’s sentineling program are exempted from the ban. Dr. Valenzuela recommended using semen from ASF-free certified farms for breeding instead of transporting pigs. She also advised hog raisers to avoid using water from creeks, irrigation canals, or rivers to prevent contamination and to maintain biosecurity measures in pigpens.
Surveillance operations are currently ongoing in various parts of Ilocos Norte, with stringent border protocols and quarantine checkpoints in place to prevent ASF from affecting hogs in the area.
