Oro, Misor ASF task forces cull 3,561 pigs

By Uriel Quilinguing, Contributing Editor .

LOCAL African swine fever (ASF) task forces have stamped out 3,561 hogs in this city and in Misamis Oriental, a month after serum samples from four areas were tested positive for highly contagious asfivirus.

The ASF outbreaks were confirmed by the Department of Agriculture regional field office 10 last Feb. 10, this year.

As of Monday (March 8), the city and provincial governments have released more than P7 million financial assistance to 986 farmers as initial compensation of the culled pigs.

City veterinarian Lucien Anthony Acac, in yesterday’s Agri-Tsada forum launch, said the ASF infection has spread from barangays Mambuaya and San Simon to 14 other villages.
From the first two villages, the ASF infection spread to Agusan, Baikingon, Bugo, Canitoan, Cugman, Indahag, Macabalan, Macasandig, Pagatpat, Patag, Puerto, Puntod, Tablon, and Tumpagon.

Acac said they have culled 2,356 backyard-raised pigs from the 16 barangays, affecting 653 farming households.

In Misamis Oriental, transmissions of the ASF virus were confirmed from blood samples from Initao and Manticao towns a month ago.

Provincial veterinarian Benjamin Resma said ASF infections have spread to Laguindingan and Opol towns though only one or two barangays have confirmed cases.

Resma said they have culled 1,205 hogs of 333 backyard raisers in 10 barangays of the four municipalities.

Depopulated pigs are those that are confirmed infected as well as those that are potentially infected being within the 500-meter radius, the containment or “red” zone.

Both local veterinarians claimed documentary requirements for the national government’s indemnification fees for the depopulated hog have been complied with.

This includes the enrolment to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), a minimum requirement for agri-fishery related government services and assistance.

Julesbeen Maquiling, also a veterinarian and designated DA 10 regional focal person for ASF, said that it would take two to three months before one could be given the P5,000 per head indemnification payment.

Of the initial 149 farmers who own the 664 culled pigs from barangay Pugaan, Iligan City last Nov. 18, last year, not one has been given compensation.

Only the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers, Inc. has extended P2,000 financial assistance for every culled pig to farmers of Pugaan, Iligan.