La Trinidad, Benguet—With the threat of African Swine Fever still present in the province, the municipal local government of La Trinidad has intensified its information and education campaign against the disease to remind hog growers to strengthen their biosecurity.
Mayor Roderick Awingan issued executive order 94-2026, which tasked the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) to conduct “intensive social behavioral change communication” and enjoin the barangay officials to implement vigilant monitoring in their respective areas.
The campaign includes educating swine raisers and the public on strict farm biosecurity protocols, which are measures aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of ASF and other harmful organisms.
There shall also be a mandatory inspection of all meat-handling establishments including public markets, private meat shops, supermarkets and talipapa to ensure that all commercialized pork complies with strict national and local health standards, according to the EO.
The mayor also mandates the ban on the unregulated entry and transport of live hogs, fresh pork, and pork-by products without the requisite veterinary health certificates, shipping permits, and meat inspection certificates from the Bureau of Animal Industry or National Meat Inspection Service.
Also reiterated in the EO is the restriction on the sale of hot meat and oraga or the sale of internal organs in the town. Hot meat products are those that are slaughtered outside accredited municipal or national slaughterhouses without proper meat handling.
“All barangay officials within the municipality are hereby enjoined to practice strict vigilance and monitor backyard farms closely within their respective jurisdictions,” the EO stated.
Awingan calls on the public to report any suspected cases of ASF, unusual swine sickness, or sudden hog mortalities to the municipal agriculture office for appropriate action.
Mark Anthony Padao, Veterinary 1 of the municipal agriculture office, said there are reported cases of swine deaths in the municipality, but they are waiting for the confirmation of the testing result from the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) to determine if the deaths are due to ASF.
“Aside from ASF, there is a possibility that the deaths are due to other diseases like hog cholera so we need to conduct tests,” Padao said.
He said they are coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Animal Industry for possible funding for the indemnification of hog farmers affected by ASF or other diseases.
The ASF, a swine disease which until now has no cure, can be spread through direct contact with infected pigs, feces or body fluids, indirect contact via fomites such as equipment, vehicles or people who work with pigs between pig farms with ineffective biosecurity, pigs eating infected pig meat or meat products, and swill feeding or arasao in local term.
