On boar-for-hire activities in Bohol: 6-month moratorium amid ASF outbreak

CEBU, Philippines — In order to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province, the Provincial Government of Bohol has enforced an immediate six-month moratorium on boar-for-hire activities to all hog industries.

Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued the moratorium through Executive Order 57, titled, "Immediate Moratorium of Boar-for-Hire Activities for a Period of Six Months."

The governor also issued Executive Order 58, mandating the accreditation of hog traders to ensure proper monitoring and regulation of hog-related activities.

Aumentado, in a Facebook page post, said based on an investigation report, the boar-for-hire operations has been identified one of the primary causes of the recent ASF outbreak in Central Bohol.

“Aron malikayan ang mas dakong pagkatap sa virus sa ASF, dako kaayo ang panginahanglan nga ipahunong ang tanan nga aktibidad sa butakal nga for hire diha-diha dayon,” reads a portion in Aumentado’s post.

He added that this measure is a temporary solution for security and to further protect the pig industry in the province.

The governor said that the most significant way residents can contribute in the campaign is by disseminating accurate information about ASF and strictly adhering to the preventive measures announced by the authorities.

“Dili kini mahimo nga kami ra sa Kagamhanang Probinsyal ang maglihok. Busa, akong giawhag ang tanang Bol-anon sa pagtinabangay, kay kamo kanunay kabahin sa atong mga kalihokan ug kalampusan,” the governor said.

Aumentado reached such decisions following a confirmed report about ASF outbreak in Bohol, according to the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), the designated focal office tasked with monitoring the health and condition of hogs in the province.

Meanwhile, in a Kwentas Klaras program hosted by Ted Ayeng over radio DYTR Bohol, Dr. Meydallyn Paman, OPV officer-in-charge, reported that a total of 1,216 pigs have been culled to control the spread of the virus across nine barangays in five municipalities affected by the outbreak.

The reported data showed that a total of 314 pigs were culled in San Vicente, San Miguel; 310 in Bayongan; 264 in Poblacion Norte; 84 in Poblacion Sur, Batuan; 75 in Los Angeles; 60 in San Francisco, Ubay; 24 in Nueva Vida Norte; 35 in Buenos Aires, Carmen; and 50 in La Suerte, Pilar.

Paman said that the situation in the province is already classified as an outbreak because under the national guidelines, the spread of a disease to two barangays within 15 days classified the situation as one.

She said that even if only one out of the 50 samples tested is positive, it is already considered an outbreak – especially if the area was previously unaffected.

Paman also admitted that one of the challenges they are facing right now is that some hog raisers attempted to move their pigs to other areas after hearing of infections nearby.

The boar-for-hire setup has contributed to the spread of ASF because the boars are moved from one place to another for breeding purposes. During these movements, they may contract the infection and then spread it to other areas.

When asked if any neighboring provinces have stopped from purchasing pigs from Bohol, Paman said that, so far, none have done so because traders sourced their pigs from areas with recognized active surveillance and during their blood sampling, no positive cases were confirmed.

Upon the directive of Aumentado, the ASF Provincial Task Force is set to meet today, January 8, to discuss more ways to step up the implementation of the two executive orders. — JG (FREEMAN)