By Victor Martin
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — This town was
the latest in Cagayan Valley affected by African swine fever (ASF).
At least 17 pigs that died in Barangay La
Torre tested positive for ASF, Mayor Ralph Lantion reported last week.
“We have locked down La Torre North and
nearby La Torre South, Luyang and Casat to prevent the spread of the disease,”
Lantion said.
He said more
than 200 pigs were culled March 6.
Lantion said affected hog raisers would
receive P2,500 per culled pig as indemnity from the municipal government.
An emergency meeting of officials of the
agriculture department and municipal government was held last week to discuss
preventive measures.
In Isabela,
the number of ASF-affected towns rose from two to 11, according to the
provincial veterinary office.
Provincial
veterinarian Angelo Naui said 22 barangays in Reina Mercedes, Echague, Quezon,
Luna, Quirino, Mallig, Jones, Aurora Roxas, San Manuel, Gamu and Cordon were
affected by ASF.
Naui said
1,000 pigs have been culled since last month. Affected hog raisers received an
initial compensation of P2 million.
The first ASF
cases in Cagayan Valley were reported in Mallig and Quirino towns in Isabela
last month. Seventy-seven pigs were culled.
In Cagayan,
56 hogs were recently culled in Solana, where pigs in five barangays tested
positive for ASF.
Pigs, pork and processed meat in Quirino
and Batanes remain ASF-free.
The Bureau of
Animal Industry had earlier reported that hogs in Ifugao, Kalinga, Pangasinan,
Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite,
Rizal, Camarines Sur and Davao Occidental as well as Quezon City, Caloocan City
and Malabon in Metro Manila were hit by ASF.
Only pigs raised in the Visayas remain
ASF-free. – With
Raymund Catindig
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