Isabela bans entry of swine
Credit to Author: LEANDER C. DOMINGO, TMT| Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2019 17:35:12 +0000
ILAGAN CITY, Isabela: Gov. Rodolfo Albano 3rd has declared a total ban on the entry of pigs, including fresh, frozen and processed products in the entire province.
The ban was earlier declared in the provinces of Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) already reported that the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan and Pangasinan are African swine fever (ASF) infested areas.
In an executive order, Albano directed all mayors in the province to implement measures in support of the total ban preventing the entry of ASF in the province.
Checkpoints were set up in all ingresses and egresses in the province to block the entry of pigs.
Narciso Edillo, DA Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) executive director, said Isabela hosts some of the biggest hog raisers in the Region’s five provinces and in the country.
“Thus, the need for more aggressive measures to be implemented to prevent the infection of African swine fever from reaching local farms and disrupting economic activity in the province,” Edillo said.
Edillo said the DA-RFO2 is also collaborating with the Bureau of Animal Industry, other concerned agencies and local government units in conducting massive information dissemination of ongoing control measures against the ASF disease.
“We are also expecting that the province of Cagayan and the island province of Batanes will follow suit in declaring a total ban the entry of swine whether fresh, frozen or processed products,” he added.
In last week’s regular meeting, the Regional Development Council 2 chaired by Albano declared their total support to the measures now being implemented by the DA in combating the ASF disease, low and confiscatory price of palay (unmilled rice), as well as Fall Armyworm or FAW infestation.
“We express our sincerest appreciation to all the stakeholders for supporting our programs especially on the resolution of these emerging issues in the agriculture sector,” Edillo said.