GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 05 February) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 will shift its campaign this year against the African Swine Fever (ASF) to the community and barangay levels, an official said.
Arlan Mangelen, DA-12 executive director, said they set to launch a series of “barangay to barangay” information and education campaigns to prevent the reemergence of the dreaded disease in some parts of the region.
He said the region is generally under the “green zone” at the moment or free from ASF based on the agency’s assessment.
DA-12 recorded outbreaks of the disease last year in Kidapawan City and in the municipalities of Arakan, Makilala, President Roxas and Magpet in North Cotabato, and in Glan, Sarangani but no new cases have been so far reported in these areas.
Confirmed cases of ASF were also found in several hogs purchased in Davao del Sur in January last year by a trader from Koronadal City but it was immediately contained.
“We need to go from barangay to barangay to educate our people so we can preserve our ASF-free status,” Mangelen said in an interview over Brigada News FM.
He said the campaign will complement with the continuing disease surveillance activities in the region’s border areas and the strict implementation of the ban on the entry of live hogs and pork products from contaminated areas.
Citing their assessment, the official said the previous outbreaks mainly affected backyard hog raisers in the barangay and community level.
