Cebu City tightens anti-ASF measures

Local

CEBU City has further tightened its defenses against African Swine Fever (ASF).

Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. has issued a supplemental Executive Order that strengthens border inspections, expands disease surveillance, mandates cooperation from stakeholders, and authorizes administrative sanctions against those who violate the city's disease-control measures.

The new EO signed on August 3, supplements EO No. 86, which earlier imposed a temporary ban on the entry and exit of live hogs, locally produced pork, pork products, and swine by-products in Cebu City following the confirmation of the city's first ASF case.

This comes days after city veterinarians declared the initial outbreak in Barangay Quiot contained after authorities culled an entire backyard herd where nine pigs tested positive for the highly contagious swine disease.

Under the supplemental order, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) was directed to intensify inspections at ports of entry and exit, public markets, slaughterhouses, livestock trading areas, and other strategic locations.

Working with the Cebu City African Swine Fever Task Force, Cebu City Police Office, Philippine Coast Guard, Cebu Port Authority, Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Service 7, Department of Agriculture, Cebu City Transportation Office, Market Operations Division, barangays, and other agencies, the DVMF may establish temporary veterinary inspection and quarantine stations.

The department is also authorized to inspect transport vehicles, cargo, livestock shipments, pork products, shipping documents, veterinary permits, and other required certifications.

Authorities may also recommend refusing entry, seizing, releasing, or restricting the movement of shipments that fail to comply with quarantine, veterinary, and biosecurity requirements.

The order likewise directs the DVMF to coordinate with neighboring local government units and national agencies on animal movement restrictions and disease containment efforts.

Barangays were assigned a more active role in the city's ASF response.

Under the EO, barangays must provide personnel, logistical, and operational assistance within 24 hours after receiving a request from the DVMF or the Cebu City ASF Task Force.

They are expected to assist in quarantine operations, surveillance, inspections, disinfection, and depopulation activities when authorized by competent authorities.

Barangay captains were also instructed to maintain updated inventories of backyard hog raisers, immediately report suspected ASF cases or unusual pig deaths, assist veterinary personnel during disease-control operations, and conduct information campaigns on ASF prevention.

The order warns that barangay officials who fail to perform these duties may face sanctions under existing laws governing local officials.

The supplemental directive also expands disease surveillance across Cebu City.

The DVMF was ordered to intensify epidemiological investigations, laboratory testing, animal health monitoring, and inspections of farms, slaughterhouses, meat establishments, transport vehicles, livestock traders, and other facilities involved in the swine and pork industry.

It also makes immediate reporting mandatory.

Swine raisers, livestock traders, slaughterhouse operators, transporters, meat dealers, and barangay officials are now required to immediately report suspected ASF cases, unusual swine deaths, illegal transport of pigs or pork products, or any activity that could contribute to the spread of the disease.

The EO likewise requires farmers, traders, transporters, market operators, business establishments, barangay officials, and other affected individuals to fully cooperate with government personnel implementing quarantine measures, inspections, disease investigations, confiscation activities, and other lawful disease-control operations.

The order also identifies several prohibited acts, including concealing suspected or confirmed ASF cases, refusing lawful inspections, obstructing government personnel, transporting regulated commodities in violation of quarantine rules, and falsifying veterinary permits or other official documents.

Violators may face administrative enforcement measures authorized under existing laws and national regulations.

These include refusal of entry or movement of regulated commodities, quarantine, seizure, confiscation or condemnation of shipments where allowed by law, suspension or cancellation of permits and business clearances, and referral to the proper government agencies for possible administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings.

The EO clarifies, however, that it does not create new criminal offenses or impose penalties beyond those already provided under existing laws.

The supplemental order builds on the city's response after confirming its first ASF case in a backyard hog farm in Barangay Quiot.

According to the DVMF, nine pigs tested positive for the virus, prompting authorities to depopulate the remaining herd to prevent further transmission.

City veterinarians later declared the case contained after completing disease-control measures within the prescribed response period.

Authorities are continuing surveillance in nearby communities while maintaining enhanced border controls and biosecurity measures to prevent ASF from spreading to other parts of Cebu City.

The DVMF has repeatedly urged hog raisers to immediately report sick or dying pigs, and that early detection remains the city's best defense against the disease, which still has no approved vaccine or cure.(TGP)