Pangasinan town under state of calamity due to ASF

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Philippines  – A state of calamity was declared in this town yesterday due to African swine fever (ASF), which has affected hogs in five barangays.

The municipal council passed a resolution approving the declaration, citing an increase in the number of cases. 

Culling of pigs within the one-kilometer radius of barangays hit by the swine disease resulted in huge losses to the hog industry, the resolution noted.

It added that despite culling operations and setting up of quarantine checkpoints, ASF continues to spread in the town.

The council recommended the payment of P1,000 per head as compensation to affected hog raisers.

“There is a need to release calamity funds for indemnification... and... activities to prevent the spread of ASF,” the resolution read. 

Municipal agriculturist Fernando Ferrer said the affected barangays are Linoc, Canaoalan, Poblacion, San Isidro Sur and Caloocan Sur.

Ferrer said 307 pigs were culled in Barangay San Isidro Sur on Wednesday.

Mayor Simplicio Rosario ordered the closure of the meat section of the public market to prevent the sale of  pork from other towns.

New cases in Bataan

Meanwhile, in Bataan, new ASF cases were reported in four barangays in Dinalupihan, two in Hermosa and one each in Orani and Samal.

During an emergency meeting called by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on Wednesday, concerned mayors were told to implement precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading.

In Hermosa, Mayor Jopet Inton said 500 pigs that tested positive for ASF would be culled.