MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday ordered to further boost its inspection checkpoints or stations in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces to prevent the spread of animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF) and avian influenza (AI).
“These inspection sites should serve as a defensive wall against the spread of animal diseases that threaten not only the local livestock and poultry industries but also public health and food security,” DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said the move is not just intended to ensure a stable supply in December, but also to prevent the spread of diseases in other regions as hogs and poultry animals traverse Metro Manila.
“Very important iyong Metro Manila para ma-check iyong pagpasok, paglabas ng mga baboy at para maiwasan iyong spread ng (Metro Manila is a very important location to check the entry and exit of hogs and prevent the spread of) transboundary diseases,” he said, citing plans to set up additional inspection stations.
As of November 5, De Mesa said 532 out of the 11, 250 inspected shipments in 14 inspection sites in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were apprehended.
Besides boosting inspection checkpoints, BAI will also assess gaps within the quarantine points to sustain the stringent measures against ASF and AI.
“Given the severe economic impact on the livestock and poultry industries of bird (flu), ASF, and other diseases, it’s crucial to implement stringent disease management protocols and strategies to control their spread,” Tiu Laurel said.
Besides strict biosecurity measures, the DA has been continuously ramping up its government-controlled vaccination among healthy and ASF-negative hogs in Batangas, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Laguna using AVAC live vaccines.
As of November 8, around 465 barangays in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Soccsksargen are still under red zones, or areas with active cases of ASF, according to BAI.
For avian influenza, only one barangay in San Luis, Pampanga has an active avian influenza case nationwide as of November 15. (PNA)