ASF-hit Ginatilan tightens biosecurity measures

Local

FOLLOWING the confirmation of African swine fever (ASF) cases in its two barangays, Ginatilan town in southern Cebu has tightened movement and border controls, suspended livestock trading and imposed stricter restrictions on swine and pork products to contain the disease.

Mayor Roy Vincent Singco issued Executive Order (EO) No. 2026, placing the municipality under enhanced biosecurity measures after the Provincial Veterinary Office confirmed Barangays Cagsing and Calabawan as positive for ASF.

The order prohibits the entry and exit of swine in the two affected barangays, as well as the transport, sale, purchase or transfer of pigs within, into or out of the areas without written clearance from the Municipal Agriculture Office and the Provincial Veterinary Office.

The slaughter or butchering of pigs, whether for household consumption or sale, is also prohibited in Cagsing and Calabawan until further notice.

The municipal government also suspended all livestock buying, selling, trading and transfers throughout Ginatilan, including during its regular Tuesday and Friday market days.

Livestock transport trucks and carriers are barred from entering any barangay in the municipality to load, unload, buy or sell livestock.

Through-traffic along the national road from Barangay Looc to Barangay Palanas remains allowed, but vehicles cannot stop, park, load, unload or conduct livestock-related transactions within Ginatilan.

Violating vehicles and cargo may be turned back and subjected to inspection, quarantine or disposal upon the direction of the Provincial Veterinary Office and recommendation of the Municipal Agriculture Office.

The municipality established internal checkpoints at all entry and exit points of Cagsing and Calabawan.

Border checkpoints were also designated in Barangays Looc, Palanas, Mangaco and Salamanca to monitor movements into and out of the municipality.

The Philippine National Police will lead land and highway border control, with support from barangay officials, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The Philippine Coast Guard-Ginatilan Station will enforce controls along coastal waters and shoreline areas to prevent the entry of pigs and pork products through sea routes.

The EO also strictly prohibits the entry of live swine, swine meat and pork products originating from Negros Oriental through all land and sea entry points in Ginatilan.

The municipal government also suspended the deployment of animal technicians and artificial insemination personnel to farms and swine holdings.

The measure aims to prevent mechanical transmission of the virus through personnel, tools and equipment.

The Provincial Veterinary Office will conduct regular ASF testing and disease monitoring while providing technical guidance to the Municipal Agriculture Office in implementing containment measures.

The restrictions will remain in effect until lifted by the municipal mayor upon the recommendation of the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Department of Agriculture.

Earlier, Singco confirmed that Ginatilan had recorded its first ASF cases after Barangays Cagsing and Calabawan tested positive in laboratory tests conducted by the Department of Agriculture Central Visayas Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Singco said the Provincial Veterinary Office and the Ginatilan Municipal Agriculture Office were on the ground to trace the source of the infection and guide the municipality in implementing containment measures.

He said the municipality had established checkpoints, particularly in the two affected barangays, to prevent the movement of pigs and had temporarily restricted the entry of feed company representatives and artificial insemination technicians into farms.

The mayor also said the livestock market had been temporarily suspended on Tuesdays and Fridays as part of the municipality's initial response to the outbreak.

The municipal government coordinated with the Provincial Veterinary Office for technical guidance as it implemented the containment measures.(MyTVCebu)