THE provincial government of Bulacan and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have intensified the monitoring of the African swine fever (ASF) situation in the province.

Gov. Daniel Fernando said the government will continue to communicate and coordinate with the DA to prevent the entry and spread of the ASF virus in the province.

"I want to inform you that we continue to monitor the situation of African swine fever in our province. Despite the challenges, our provincial government is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture to prevent its spread and ensure that all the meat in our town markets is safe to consume and of good quality," said Fernando.

Fernando is also calling on all hog raisers in the province to be vigilant and to continue following the protocols and guidelines for the protection of the pig industry.

He also asked the citizens of Bulacan to immediately inform the concerned authorities if they see animals showing symptoms of ASF.

Fernando, however, assured that the province of Bulacan remain ASF-free.

The governor also said that checkpoints manned by personnel from the Philippine National Police and the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) have been installed in all borders of Bulacan.

Dr. Voltaire Basinag, head of Bulacan PVO, said that on July 11, ASF cases were detected in a hog farm in Bocaue, Bulacan that led to the culling of 80 pigs.

Basinag said it was an isolated case and the virus did not spread in neighboring hog farms.

He also refuted the news that ASF-infected pork meat from Batangas were brought and sold in Bulacan markets.

"We in Bulacan always have meat inspectors in our slaughterhouses and market inspectors in the public and private markets to make sure that what is sold in the markets is safe to eat," said Basinag.

It is fake news, he said.

Meanwhile, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. on Aug. 15, 2024 ordered the setup of livestock checkpoints across the city to ensure that it will remain free from ASF.

In Memorandum Order 1788, Series of 2024, Lazatin instructed the Angeles City Police Office headed by Col. Amado Mendoza Jr. and the Angeles City Traffic Development Office led by Francis Pangilinan to set up border checkpoints for inspection of delivery trucks entering the city, which are possibly transporting pigs and meat products from ASF positive areas from Batangas.

"This preventive measure is to ensure that the city is free from ASF," Lazatin said.

In the same memorandum, Lazatin urged that all hog dealers who will enter the city must present the necessary documents such as Certificate of Free Status on ASF, Vaccination Record from Veterinarian, and Shipping Permit.

In line with this, the City Meat Inspection Division headed by Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel and the City Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Christian Arcilla are also on standby to support the border control measures.

Lazatin's chief adviser IC Calaguas, meanwhile, said the city slaughterhouse is also in strict compliance with the protocols.

"Mayor Lazatin wants to be vigilant as ever. Angeles City is ASF-free, and Mayor Lazatin wants to keep it that way," Calaguas said.