900 pigs culled in Pangasinan to counter ASF spread

In an effort to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the province, about 900 pigs were culled in Pangasinan after hogs in a piggery in Barangay Apalen, Bayamabang tested positive for the virus.

According to a report by Sandra Aguinaldo on GMA News' 24 Oras on Wednesday, pigs within a one-kilometer radius of the piggery were killed in accordance with the Department of Agriculture's "1-7-10" protocol to counter ASF.

However, several hog raisers raised complaints about the loss of their livestock.

"Pati kami nadadamay wala namang sakit yung mga baboy namin. Paano na sir? Papatayin nila edi wala na kaming pangkabuhayan. Masakit po ang loob namin," Julita Tagulao said.

The local government of Pangasinan also placed 12 barangays included in the one-kilometer quarantine zone under a state of calamity.

Security in the area was also tightened and authorities have placed police lines around the burial site of the infected pigs.

"Concentration muna namin ngayon is ma-contain ang one-kilometer radius kasi itong ground zero, dapat itong week na ito dapat, as much as possible, ma-culling na lahat ng mga baboy dito," Police Lieutenant Colenel Marceliano Desamito, Jr., OIC of the Bayamabang Police Station, said.

Authorities are also surveying areas included in the 7- to 10-kilometer radius from ground zero.

"Kumukuha na sila ng blood samples at ipapa-laboratory kung mag-positive or mag-negative at kung mag-positive doon naman ang panibagong site," Pangasinan OIC-Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Jovito Tabajeros said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News