Guv lifts border checkpoint,

asks fast ASF case reporting

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 4 (PIA)—Fifteen days following the installation of strict border checkpoints in efforts to contain a hog viral disease within the affected areas in Dauis town, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued the order lifting the border checkpoint, May 3.

Moreover, the governor asks communities for vigilance and fast reporting of any monitored cases of animal disease and death, to arrest the virus and contain the disease.

Although this is the second case in Bohol, the governor said, “We are successful [this time], we are calling our communities to be vigilant and report immediately any case of hog disease noted, so we can act quickly and stop the spread of the disease,” he added.

The lifting of border security protocols came after the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) found the blood samples collected from the hogs surrounding Purok 5 of Mayacabac and Purok 2 of Mariveles, negative of the Afriocan Swine Fever (ASF) virus.

“Fifteen days from the last positive case, there have been no reported active cases of ASF,” Gov. Aumentado said.

Getting the bitter end of criticisms after ordering containment measures, Aumentado reasoned out that with a P6 billion hog industry at stake, he has to do what needs to be done.

The governor said about 80 percent of the industry is backyard hog raisers, those who could hardly stand up when hit by the diseases, unlike the commercial raisers who have strict back-up plans when they can be hit.

Daghan kaayong salamat sa mga Bol-anon nga nagpasensya, para sa pagseguro nga mapanalipdan nato ang atong gagmay nga magbababoy, (to the Boholanos who exercised patience if only to safeguard our smalltime hog industry, thank you, the governor said.

The lifting of the border security protocols, which drew stiff criticisms from people and commuters who could not see the logic of containing the infection, however is now shifted and tightened towards the infected puroks in the two barangays.

Through Executive Order No. 17 series of 2024 and issued May 2, the governor also reclassified the ASF zoning status in the town of Dauis, Panglao island in Bohol.

As such, infected puroks and its premises are now ASF Quarantine Level 2 zones.

Here, authorities are expected to saturate the puroks and its premises with information, education and communication on ASF in Dauis, to fully nip the infection in the bud.

Then, with the border quarantine security cordon now tightening on the infected areas, disease surveillance and random blood samples collection for ASF testing.

Here, while the pig farms are all disinfected, movement of pigs from outside is banned, considering that the virus could still be in.

On the other hand, in these areas, pigs of all ages going out needs to get ASF negative test result, livestock inspection certificate and barangay certification as to the source of the livestock.

If these pigs sent out are for slaughter, these need to undergo ASF rapid testing, when an ASF inspection is not available.

The same executive order also upgraded the ASF classification in Dauis to surveillance area.

Here, aside from the conduct of continuous disease surveillance, IEC and random collection of blood samples for ASF testing.

The whole of the town, unless a new active case of ASF through RT-PCR confirmatory laboratory testing by the RADDL comes up, it shall be automatically upgraded to ASF-Infected Area.

As such, another round of depopulation of all live pigs in all ages within the vicinity should happen, whether confirmatory test result is obtained or not. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

PROTECTING THE SMALL HOG GROWERS. Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado gets his second ASF virus containment baptism of fire with the successful management of the Dauis incident, but still calls communities to help in fast reporting cases of animal death and disease, so that authorities can quickly act to contain and disinfect. (PIABohol)