Joy Belmonte: Quezon City nearly ASF-free

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City is almost free of the African swine fever virus, Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

She made the assessment as there are no reports of new cases in Barangays Bagong Silangan and Payatas.

“Tingin ko contained na sa dalawang barangay ang sakit ng ASF. Kapag natapos na nating i-depopulate ang hog population sa dalawang barangay na ito, tingin ko makakapag-declare na tayo ng ASF-free city (I believe the ASF has been contained in the two barangays. Once we finish depopulating hogs in the two barangays, we could be declared an ASF-free city) ,” she said in a statement.

Belmonte lauded barangay officials for their efforts in preventing the virus from spreading to other areas in the city.

City veterinarian Anamarie Cabel said around 1,500 pigs from 482 hog raisers in Barangay Payatas have been culled while 369 of the 909 hogs in Bagong Silangan village were slaughtered.

Some of the affected hog raisers have already received P3,000 for each pig or piglet culled.

Belmonte assured backyard hog raisers of alternative livelihoods to sustain the needs of their families.

As a highly urbanized city, Belmonte said land-use plan and zoning regulation prohibit raising animals such as poultry and hogs in backyards in Quezon City.