BAYAMBANG— The Bayambang government has declared state of calamity in seven  barangays of the town affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) and more if necessary.

Mayor Cezar Quiambao said initially there were seven barangays including the four barangays within the one-kilometer radius from Barangay Apalen, where the ASF was first detected.

“There might be more barangays as the 1-7-10 protocol of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is being implemented starting from ground zero,” Quiambao said.

The mayor said the declaration will enable the municipality to provide assistance to the hog raisers in the town whose swine were culled.

“We will give them 50 kilograms of rice in addition to the cash aid from DA. We will give it to them soon as the inventory is done,” he said as he assured that the investigation on the source of ASF will continue.

He said the hog raiser identified to have been the source will face criminal cases. “The unnamed trader allegedly brought hogs into his backyard, where he did the slaughtering and selling of the meat products, which is prohibited,” he added.

According to Dr. Marlon Mendez of DA Ilocos regional office, some 59 hogs were confirmed to have died due to ASF, while 207 were culled as of last Wednesday.

Mendoza confirmed that some 914 hogs are within the one kilometer radius in the four barangays of Bayambang, while six towns  in Pangasinan and two in Tarlac are  covered by the seven kilometer radius from ground zero. (Ahikam Pasion)

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