ASF hits Isabela hogs; San Carlos City placed under state of calamity

By Lizle Basa Iiigo and Raymund Catindig

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – This city was declared Under the State of Calamity due to the first case of ASF (African Swine Fever) in Barangay Calobaoan.

The declaration was made by Office of the Sangguniang Panglungsod in a resolution on Feb. 12 declaring San Carlos City, Pangasinan under the state of calamity.

Officials said, this will allow the government to access emergency funding from the National Government to fund its operations against ASF.

The City Government officials said has already set up all the logistical needs, and other supplies needed in the eradication and containment of the disease.

Likewise, Mayor Julier “Ayoy” Resuello, urged the public not to panic and the government doing best to eradicate the ASF.

In Isabela, hogs in two towns have been affected by African swine fever (ASF).

Director Narciso Edillo of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Cagayan Valley said pigs  in Mallig and Quirino tested positive for ASF.

Edillo said an emergency meeting of hog raisers as well as local government and agriculture officials was conducted on Wednesday to discuss measures to ensure that the swine disease would not spread to other towns.

Provincial veterinarian Angelo Naui said 77 pigs raised in backyard piggeries in Barangays Bimonton, Casili and Rang-ayan in Mallig and San Miguel in Quirino were culled.

As this developed, agriculture officials intensified quarantine checkpoints in Sta. Fe and Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya; Nagtipunan, Quirino; Ramon, Mallig, and Sta. Maria and Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan to monitor vehicles coming from Metro Manila and nearby areas.

Hogs in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Rizal, Cavite, Pangasinan as well as Quezon City, Caloocan City and Malabon in Metro Manila were affected by ASF last year.