Cebu City intensifies measures: Barangays tapped in ASF fight

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City government continues to intensify its campaign to keep the city free from the African Swine Fever (ASF) by involving, this time, the barangays.

Mayor Michael Rama, before his vacation last week, said convergence should continue and the best time to prepare is when no cases are noted yet.

Rama said the “convergence” -- or meeting of minds of different sectors -- had been proven to be an effective formula against the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the issues concerning the recent Sinulog at the South Road Properties.

“Di man mahimo nga unya na ta mangandam kung pirti nang daghana. Being a highly-urbanized city, being a hub, naa dihay pier, terminal, entry points…

Let’s make our position very clear, very, very clear, dili ko gusto nga uy, kadaghan na gud diay nangaigo?" Rama said.

Rama added that he will not hesistate to fire someone if this happens.

“Naa gyuy mangatangtang sa pwesto para nako… Diin man diay mo? Any kind of disease nga moapektar sa manok, baboy, ug mga ginganlan og livestock and the so-called meat products… Naa na silay gitrabaho (DVMF/City Agriculture,among others),” Rama said.

With this, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) led by Dr. Jessica Maribojoc continues its strict monitoring of pork meat and other products that arrive in the city from another places.

An animal quarantine checkpoint also remains in the city’s boundaries.

Those bringing pork meat, whether cooked, fresh or processed, are asked to voluntarily surrender them to the designated office or quarantine office, including in seaport and ariport.

The Cebu City government also continues to adopt the policies of the Cebu Provincial government to prevent ASF here, including the banning of entry of live pigs, pork products among others from areas with ASF cases.

A tabletop simulation exercise was also successfully conducted with  officials from different barangays in attendance to further enhance their measure against this matter.

The city government has tapped the barangay officials since they are the first to know the situation in their jurisdictions.

"Tumong sa maong simulation exercises nga masayod ang barangay officials sa ilang buhaton kun pananglitan dunay nga kadudahan nga karne nga mangabot sa ilang dapit," said Dr. Alice Utlang, Rama’s assistant for special projects and now Information Education Campaign  coordinator said.

Also attending the simulation exercises were the representatives of the Department of Agriculture-7, as well as the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture in the council, Councilor Jun Alcover, CREMDEC, and the head of the City Agriculture Department, Joey Baclayon.

Based on the January 19, 2023 data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, there are six regions, 12 provinces, 43 municipalities and 134 barangayss with active cases of ASF.

In Luzon, there were reported cases of ASF in Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.

In the Visayas, there were active cases found in two areas in Guimaras, 16 areas in Iloilo Province, and three in Northern Samar.

There are also reported cases in Mindanao, one area in Camiguin and Agusan del Sur, and five areas in Surigao del Norte. – Sanden J. Anadia, JMD (FREEMAN)