CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Carlene C. Collado, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao has announced, Region 10 is still African Swine Fever (ASF) free and sought to maintain said status.

This, he bared during the Emergency meeting on ASF Situation in Region 10 on Monday, August 10 in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.

However, Collado appealed to the public to help keep the region, ASF free, by refraining from bringing in the pork meat and its by-products from ASF affected areas.

Monitoring and surveillance on processed meat especially on online sellers has been intensified in ensuring food safety of the consumers, wherein, violators will be penalized under the Food Safety Act.

He stressed, to prepare and impose measures to contain the spread of said disease, and find ways to prevent its entry particularly in Bukidnon.

Reportedly, Arakan Valley in Cotabato has confirmed positive cases of ASF, wherein its boundary is between Davao City, North Cotabato and Bukidnon, particularly, Kitaotao.

Similarly, Talaingod, Davao del Norte has reported positive ASF cases with San Fernando, Bukidnon as its boundary.

The emergency meeting called for DA-10 and concerned agencies, including the local government units and stakeholders to come up with measures against ASF.

“Harmonize and align all our efforts from the LGUs, national government agencies, private sectors and other stakeholders,” said Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations.

She added, it is essential to heighten the alert status on ASF control and protection in all borders of Region 10.

In ensuring border protection in Bukidnon, the group has recommended to establish additional two ASF checkpoints in barangays Kabalantian and Porchaco Kwatro in Kalilangan town with PNP personnel.

Barangay Kabalantian is the entry to Arakan Valley while Porchaco Kwatro is the entry to Wao, Lanao del Sur.

DA-10 through its Regulatory and Regional Agricultural Engineering Divisions are in completion of the geo mapping activity which is necessary to come up with a more comprehensive zoning up to the barangay levels.

The Livestock Program of the agency has procured disinfectants and other medical supplies ready for distribution to the LGUs.

NORMINHOG’s logistics support has been in placed in providing assistance to the LGUs also.

The Regional ASF Inter-agency Task Force in Northern Mindanao has intensified its information, education and communication campaigns down to barangay levels in solidifying its efforts on the prevention and control of ASF.# (ATCabig)