ASF cases in 2 Cebu towns?

Local

TWO municipalities in southern Cebu are being monitored by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) due to reported cases of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy did not name the local government units (LGUs) pending the results of the confirmatory tests from the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA-7).

"We have already conducted the disease investigation, but we cannot mention whether it is confirmed because we are still awaiting official results from the DA," Vincoy told provincial board members during the budget deliberation on the PVO's proposed allocation for 2027 on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Other areas in the province continue to conduct active surveillance for ASF.

According to Vincoy, out of the 51 LGUs in Cebu Province, 24 have been issued a Recognition for Active Surveillance for African Swine Fever (RAS-ASF) certificate by the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

This certificate is given to LGUs with no active cases of ASF. It also helps backyard hog raisers in the particular town or city transport their hogs outside Cebu Province.

"Ang importante kaayo sa RAS-ASF, kung backyard raiser ka ug mangayo ka niini, among ingnon nga naa nay RAS-ASF ang inyong lugar. Mangayo lang sila og kopya didto sa ilang lungsod. Mao kini ang ilang gamiton, aron makabaligya sila sa gawas sa Cebu Province, dili lang dinhi sa probinsya," Vincoy said.

"Dili na sila pangitaan og ASF test results, nga usa sa mga requirements kung magkuha ka og shipping permit," she added.

For LGUs without RAS-ASF certification, the mayor must signify their intent and comply with the requirements to be submitted to the BAI.

The PVO will assist in gathering the necessary information, including blood samples, details about the LGU, population data, and other requirements.

"Once ma-verify sa Bureau of Animal Industry ang mga information, including the test results nga negative gikan sa random nga mga barangay sa maong LGU, they will give us the RAS-ASF," Vincoy said.

Since February, the PVO has continued collecting samples from randomly selected barangays for LGUs seeking RAS-ASF certification.

The certificate has a validity period of three months for areas with a history of ASF cases. After three months, additional samples will be collected.

However, for green zones since 2019, or areas with no reported ASF cases, such as the Bantayan and Camotes areas, Vincoy said the certificate would be valid for up to six months.

As for commercial farms, they will be issued a Certificate of Free Status (CFS) by the bureau upon completion of the requirements.

Meanwhile, the PVO is proposing a budget of P66.723 million, an increase of around P3 million or 6.23% from the current year's allocation.

The increase is attributed to training expenses for capacity-building activities for LGU partners and farmers.

"Because these trainings wala ni siya for the past six years, so we really need this considering that there are a lot of partners nato, like in the Municipal Agriculture Offices, and veterinarians mga bag-o na sila. We need capacity development as well as sa atoang mga farmers and other stakeholders," Vincoy explained.

She said the training sessions will focus on new techniques for handling blood samples, rabies-related concerns, meat inspection, and livestock disease prevention and control.

Of the total proposed budget, P26 million is allocated for personnel services, P39 million for maintenance and other operating expenses, and P1.3 million for capital outlay.(MyTVCebu)