Pangasinan town under state of calamity due to ASF

MANGALDAN, Pangasinan, Philippines — The municipal council here has passed a resolution declaring the town under a state of calamity due to African swine fever (ASF).

The declaration, issued on Friday night, was based on a recommendation of the municipal disaster risk reduction management council, which said the number of hogs culled in the area has reached 1,200.

The council said the continuous spread of ASF has affected the town’s swine industry and brought losses to hog raisers, farmers and meat vendors.

A task force on ASF reported that some residents and backyard piggery operators as well as businessmen do not approved of the process of swine culling or depopulating.

The local disaster risk reduction and management council and the Municipal Agriculture Office reported that the disease has spread in the villages of Alitaya, Bateng and Palua.

The report said a lockdown has been implemented in the villages of Lanas, Bantayan, Pogo, Salaan and Talogtog, while other areas are under close monitoring.

The declaration of a state of calamity authorizes local chief executives such as mayors and governors to use the standby funds for relief and recovery programs.