DA orders strict quarantine to prevent spread of ASF in southern Philippines

February 20, 2020

The Department of Agriculture (DA) ordered intensified quarantine measures to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in southern Philippines.

Noel Reyes, DA spokesman, said following the confirmation of ASF incidence in Mindanao, Agriculture Secretary William Dar issued a circular for the strict implemention of veterinary quarantine measures against ASF with local government units (LGUs), and concerned national agencies.

Reyes said the "memorandum circular No. 03, Series of 2020", where Dar ordered the intensified quarrantine measures against ASF was signed on February 14.

“I am directing the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and other concerned agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement the establishment of  checkpoints on 24/7 operations with disinfection equipment and facilities, including foot baths, in all entry points in Mindanao,” Dar said in the DA circular.

"There will be mandatory inspection of vessels docking in Mindanao ports with meat products from ASF-affected zones and countries," he added.

Reyes said "the establishment of 24/7 quarantine checkpoints and mandatory inspection at international and domestic seaports and airports will be done in close coordination with the LGUs, Bureau of Customs and Philippine Ports Authority."

"Checked-in and hand-carried luggages of all incoming passengers from ASF-affected zones and countries will be thoroughly inspected by DA-BAI veterinary quarantine personnel, who will confiscate and immediately destroy all pork products," he added.

During the 87th PVMA Scientific Conference and Convention in Davao City on Wednesday, Dar urged veterinarians to help the DA and LGUs in the  sustained implementation of biosecurity and quarantine measures to control ASF and cushion its impact on the hog sector.

“We ask you to remain steadfast in your commitment to share and disseminate information, trends and issues in the field of veterinary medicine, both here and abroad, especially with regards to ASF and other traditional and emerging animal diseases,” Dar said.

Reyes said based on their latest data, the Philippines has culled 230,000 hogs or 1.8 percent of the national swine population of 12.7 million.

''Of these, only 15 percent were ASF-infected, and the rest healthy, but all were culled, as they were within the one-kilometer infected zone, under the 1-7-10 protocol,” he said.

However, Dar emphasized that the total culled pigs in the Philippines "is minimal compared to other neighboring ASF-affected countries."

Dar said in its latest report, the World Organization for Animal Health or OIE recorded 5,960,000 pigs culled in Vietnam, while China had 1,193,000.

He said the DA, "in partnership with the swine industry players and veterinary groups, is considering to modify the prevailing 1-7-10 protocol, decreasing the coverage of the infected zone to only 500- meter radius, and that only infected pigs will be culled, while the healthy ones will be separated, quarantined and observed."

"Private commercial farms have assured us that they have enough supply of pork and pork products for the entire 2020," said Dar.

“We are constantly meeting with key hog industry leaders, who assured us that they are increasing their stocks,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS