The African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Batangas has expanded with two new barangays in Talisay town confirmed positive for the disease.
This brings the total number of ASF-affected areas in the province to:
- Lobo: 17 barangays
- Calatagan: five barangays
- Lian: two barangays
- Talisay: two barangays
- Rosario: one barangay
- Lipa City: one barangay
In Batangas City, at the Tingga Itaas barangay checkpoint, authorities are enforcing rigorous disinfection procedures for delivery trucks.
Trucks carrying pork are sprayed with disinfectant on their wheels and carriers before they can load pork from local farms.
“Kaagapay po ng heightened biosecurity po ng bawat farms at maliliit na piggeries, ay ang pag-control ng movement ng posibleng infected na baboy, karne at ‘yun pong pagtanggap ng mga baboy sa buong probinsya ay kino-control na rin po,” Dr. Lorielie Austria, Focal Person for ASF at OP-VET Batangas, said.
Before leaving the city, truck drivers must present several documents to OP-VET or City Vet personnel stationed at the animal checkpoint.
Required documents include a veterinary health certificate, barangay clearance from the origin of the pigs, an animal inspection certificate, and an ASF-free certificate.
Once all documents are verified and in order, trucks can proceed with transporting the pigs.
Eugene Perez, a pig trader from Pasig City, expressed support for the checkpoint system.
“Mas maganda ito para maiwasan ang ASF. Mas gusto ko kasi ibinebenta rin ang baboy sa palengke, [at] ang karne. Mas maganda ang walang sakit na baboy kaysa sa may sakit,” Perez said.
