Kalinga OPVet to indemnify 85 hog raisers, plans pig repopulation

By Peter A. Balocnit

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, Feb. 8 (PIA) – – Eighty-five swine raisers affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province and who depopulated their piggeries are set to receive indemnification.

Dr. Angeline Tanding of the Office of the Provincial Veterinary (OPVet) informed the budget of more than P2 million for 405 heads of swine that were culled at P5, 000.00 each is due for release.

 
OPVet data show 20,374 total mortalities and 4,971 affected farmers in 26 barangays.
 
Tanding said monitoring of cases is also continuing and plan to repopulate those directly or indirectly affected under the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” program including restocking which aims to facilitate the recovery of the hog sector.
 
“We plan to repopulate affected barangays with swine after clearing them from ASF with barangays mandated to follow the implementing guidelines for the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” program,” Tanding said.
 
Municipalities under red zone classification are Pinukpuk, Pasil, Rizal, Tanudan, Tinglayan, Balbalan and Tabuk City while Lubuagan is classified as buffer zone.
 
The recovery and repopulation will be part of a progressive control pathway wherein stages will be set to progressively ensure a particular area previously affected is already clear from any circulating virus, and ready for repopulation.
 
Under the guidelines, there must be no new ASF outbreaks within the barangay as evidenced by weekly negative monitoring and active surveillance. The owner must agree to strictly follow protocol for repopulation, biosecurity, monitoring and surveillance.
 
Restocking of facilities to full capacity will be allowed when released from quarantine provided all the provisions – registration, acquisition of permit, farm visits and biosecurity evaluation are complied with, and the issuance of an ASF free- status. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)