Caraga task force strengthens measures vs ASF
Published Feb 11, 2020 12:00 am
By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – The Task Force African Swine Fever (TF-ASF) of the city government of Butuan is now strictly implementing measures to avert the entry of the ASF in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region.
Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada and Butuan City and Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Lemuel “Law” H. Fortun are helping TF-ASF and the City Veterinarian Office (CVO) on the surveillance, monitoring, and quarantine activities.
(Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
They are also focusing on information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign and disease updates so the general public will learn more about the ASF.
A massive information campaign was also presented to officials and personnel including workers of various slaughter houses and abattoirs to properly address and prevent the local swine from being infected by the ASF.
Lagnada said the city government, through the CVO, will closely coordinate with nearby local government units for contingency measures.
He emphasized the vital role of the TF-ASF Task Force as it will help properly monitor and address the impending threat of the ASF to the local swine industry.
The TF-ASF will strictly and closely conduct monitoring and even help law enforcers, especially those who are assigned to checkpoints to properly identify and check the entry of swine, swine meat, and other possible carriers of the ASF to the city, Lagnada said.
As of press time, the Butuan TF-ASF started the inventory of backyard and commercial farms, piggeries that are both backyard and commercial; conduct early detection of infection in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture 13; monitor animal health programs in all backyard and commercial farms; monitor meat and meat by-products sold in the market and food establishments; conduct of antemortem and post-mortem inspection in the slaughterhouse; and conduct a continuous and stricter monitoring of all national Meat Inspection.
The TF-ASF Quarantine Team set-up checkpoints in all the strategic areas on both entry and exit points of the city and implement a strict quarantine in all airports and seaports in the city.
The disease updates and policy review team also suggested the regulation of swill feeding especially in urban hotels and restaurants; enforcement of the quarantine measures; creation of quick response team; strict implementation of the zoning of 1-7-10 protocol during occurrence in the locality in managing, containing and controlling the suspected disease.
Because of the important role and functions of the Butuan TF-ASF, it is also suggested to possibly conduct a meeting every now and then to appraise each member on the status of the ASF.
Following the announcement of the entry of ASF in Davao Occidental province recently, the Butuan City ASF Task Force immediately convened for the protection and prevention of the local swine population.
Meanwhile, the Caraga Regional Veterinary Quarantine Office (CRVQO), which is under the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) is on heightened alert to prevent the entry of the ASF in Northeastern Mindanao.
CRVQO officials said that precautionary measures have been already implemented in seaports and airports all over Caraga region.
The region’s veterinary quarantine official said they are now strictly implementing footbath on points of entry in Caraga region as well as the hanging of streamers to raise awareness on the said disease.
DA 13, through the DA-BAI, is heightening its monitoring and surveillance in all points of entry of the region, particularly the regional border of Caraga and Davao regions in an effort to protect the swine farmers of Caraga region, DA 13 Regional spokesperson Emmylou T. Presilda said.
(Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
They are also focusing on information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign and disease updates so the general public will learn more about the ASF.
A massive information campaign was also presented to officials and personnel including workers of various slaughter houses and abattoirs to properly address and prevent the local swine from being infected by the ASF.
Lagnada said the city government, through the CVO, will closely coordinate with nearby local government units for contingency measures.
He emphasized the vital role of the TF-ASF Task Force as it will help properly monitor and address the impending threat of the ASF to the local swine industry.
The TF-ASF will strictly and closely conduct monitoring and even help law enforcers, especially those who are assigned to checkpoints to properly identify and check the entry of swine, swine meat, and other possible carriers of the ASF to the city, Lagnada said.
As of press time, the Butuan TF-ASF started the inventory of backyard and commercial farms, piggeries that are both backyard and commercial; conduct early detection of infection in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture 13; monitor animal health programs in all backyard and commercial farms; monitor meat and meat by-products sold in the market and food establishments; conduct of antemortem and post-mortem inspection in the slaughterhouse; and conduct a continuous and stricter monitoring of all national Meat Inspection.
The TF-ASF Quarantine Team set-up checkpoints in all the strategic areas on both entry and exit points of the city and implement a strict quarantine in all airports and seaports in the city.
The disease updates and policy review team also suggested the regulation of swill feeding especially in urban hotels and restaurants; enforcement of the quarantine measures; creation of quick response team; strict implementation of the zoning of 1-7-10 protocol during occurrence in the locality in managing, containing and controlling the suspected disease.
Because of the important role and functions of the Butuan TF-ASF, it is also suggested to possibly conduct a meeting every now and then to appraise each member on the status of the ASF.
Following the announcement of the entry of ASF in Davao Occidental province recently, the Butuan City ASF Task Force immediately convened for the protection and prevention of the local swine population.
Meanwhile, the Caraga Regional Veterinary Quarantine Office (CRVQO), which is under the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) is on heightened alert to prevent the entry of the ASF in Northeastern Mindanao.
CRVQO officials said that precautionary measures have been already implemented in seaports and airports all over Caraga region.
The region’s veterinary quarantine official said they are now strictly implementing footbath on points of entry in Caraga region as well as the hanging of streamers to raise awareness on the said disease.
DA 13, through the DA-BAI, is heightening its monitoring and surveillance in all points of entry of the region, particularly the regional border of Caraga and Davao regions in an effort to protect the swine farmers of Caraga region, DA 13 Regional spokesperson Emmylou T. Presilda said.