KORONADAL CITY – Some 900 hogs in two barangays here have been culled over the weekend to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF), an official said Monday.
Dr. Charlemagne Calo, the city veterinarian, said at least 850 of the isolated pigs were from a commercial piggery, while 33 were from backyard farms in Barangays Namnama and Rotonda.
“Immediately, the city veterinary office implemented a remedial course of action. Everything is under control and there is no reason for the public to panic,” Calo said.
He said the city remains in the “pink zone” as there was only one ASF “incursion.”
“Incursion means, the infection came from outside sources. In this case, a commercial farm had a breach in their biosecurity that caused the virus to enter the affected barangays,” he said.
To date, the city veterinary office is prohibiting the movement of hogs within 500 meters to a one-kilometer radius of the ASF zone.
“We are still observing the pigs and within this week we will get blood samples for our continued recovery from the ASF,” Calo said.
The local government has allocated P131,000 as financial support to the affected pig raisers.
“ASF-affected backyard hog raisers received financial aid that ranges from P2,000 to P5,000 per pig,” Calo said, adding that the city government was also looking for alternative livelihoods for the affected hog raisers.