THERE are now 66 hogs being culled, including those found dead earlier after the African Swine Fever (ASF) that inflicted backyard swine trade in Batuan town, barangay chair Nestor Canda of Poblacion Sur, where the ASF first detected, exclusively told this writer yesterday.
He said that the first 38 hogs found dead due to ASF infection have been added by more hogs being voluntarily gave up by owners/raisers in puroks 3 and 4 for depopulation effort even if they’re not positive of the virus.
Law enforcers of Batuan town has banned the transport without legal permit of hogs, live or processed hog meat, from entering the town’s vicinity where the inflicted live hogs in Poblacion Sur.
This as mediamen witnessed the enforcers intercepted some ten piglets loaded in a tricycle on its way to Dauis town in a check point fronting the municipal hall to contain the ASF spread.
With the police presence manning the choke point, Municipal Agriculturist Ma. Flor Pagador advised the two men who tried to bring the said hogs to return to Dagohoy town where they based and secure certificate from their municipal agriculture office. The two men admitted that they were not able to pass through Balilihan-Catigbian border where they were first flagged down.
Gov. Aris Aumentado told media interview after the Regional Development Council meeting the chairs in Anda town on Thursday that he will look into the report that there were already dead hogs as early as October 20, 2025 believed caused by ASF contamination.
Gov. Aumentado issued Executive Order No. 55, series of 2024, declaring the ASF in Purok 2, Poblacion Sur, Batuan town.
In a visit in barangay Poblacion Sur hall, where the barangay assembly attended by backyard-based hog raisers last week, most of the raisers remained reluctant to give up their hogs since they’re far from purok 2 where ASF was detected. This is far opposite from hog raisers in barangay San Vicente in San Miguel town gave up their hogs situated within the prescribed 100-meter radius from where the first ASF detected.
According to Dr. Meydallyn Paman, after receiving reports of the swine death of 30 from 5 owners, the OPV validated the report and collected samples for ASF testing.
The area was immediately cordoned and border control was established in the 5 entry/exit points of the barangay.
LGU Batuan has also convened its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council where a briefing was conducted and protocols were disseminated.
Romy Garcia, OPV Head of Operations, also reported that a barangay assembly will be held along with depopulation of less than 10 heads within the 100m surveillance area.
Also under surveillance are the barangays of Cantigdas, Poblacion Norte, Quezon, and Cabacnitan, all adjacent to Poblacion Sur in Batuan.
An augmentation of OPV teams is also being undertaken to man border control points together with the PNP and the BFP as well as in the conduct of ASF testing with the DA BAI.
The next two weeks will be crucial as far as quarantine protocols for Batuan are concerned. (rvo/withPIMOreport)
