CERTIFICATION. John Philip Vicente, livestock technician of the San Jose de Buenavista Municipal Agriculture Office in Antique province, collects blood specimens from a swine in this undated photo. Hog raisers, traders, and local government units in the province have to secure certifications that their hogs are free from African swine fever before they can ship to Iloilo City. (PNA photo courtesy of San Jose de Buenavista Municipal Agriculture Office)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Swine raisers, traders, and local government units (LGUs) in Antique have to seek certification from the Department of Agriculture (DA) that their hogs are free from African swine fever (ASF) before shipment to Iloilo City.
Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, chief of the Public Health Division of the Provincial Veterinary, said in an interview Friday that semi-commercial or commercial farms need to secure a Certificate of Free Status while backyard raisers or traders may use the Recognition of Active Surveillance from their LGUs.
The certificates are needed to transport an animal from a red (infected) zone to another red zone.
The documents that are valid for three months will be presented at the border checkpoints, particularly in the municipality of Miag-ao in Iloilo.
“Miag-ao being ASF-free effective today (Friday) has intensified its border checkpoint with the certificates,” Ardamil said.
The municipalities of Hamtic and San Jose de Buenavista have recorded ASF cases.
Hamtic has 4,575 swine deaths as of July 17, with estimated losses of PHP41.77 million.
San Jose de Buenavista has 569 swine deaths with losses valued at PHP6.17 million as of July 18. (PNA)
