FROM BAYAMBANG

LINGAYEN—The task force created by Governor Amado Espino Jr. to contain the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) has began strictly enforcing the second stage of the 1-7-10 protocol after 360 hogs within one-kilometer from ground zero in Barangay Apalen in Bayambang had already been culled and buried last Friday, Oct.25.

“We have now moved to the seven-kilometer protocol, said Task Force spokesperson Geraldine Baniqued, provincial legal officer, so there shall be no movement of hogs in all areas within the seven-kilometer radius from Barangay Apalen.

She said the seven-kilometer radius includes barangays in Bayambang, Basista, Urbiztondo, and Bautista and some barangays of adjacent Camiling, Tarlac, which poses a problem as the town of Camiling is outside of Pangasinan.

According to Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued, spokesperson of Task Force ASF, the 1-7-10 protocol from Bayambang was implemented soon after 30 of 60 hogs of a swine farm in Barangay Apalen, tested positive of the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF) on Oct. 17.

The barangays within the one-kilometer radius are Tatarac, Carungay, and Inirangan.

Meanwhile, Baniqued noted there was a delay in reporting of ASF deaths in Barangay Apalen and suspects that a cover-up may have been attempted. 

In Mapandan. there was an immediate response from the provincial government given the timely reports but this could not be done in Bayambang because of the late report, Baniqued said.   

However this was denied by Resty Odon, the town information officer, and said Mayor Cezar Quiambao issued an executive order immediately upon receipt of the report, directing the temporary ban on the entry and exit of live pigs, and fresh and frozen pork into and out of the municipality.

The 1-7-10 protocol in Mapandan has been lifted. Barangay Apalen was outside the 10 km radius of the protocol.

 Gov. Amado Espino III had directed the Task Foce ASF to apply in Barangay Apalen the same procedure in Barangay Boliling until the infection is contained, including the close watch of quarantine checkpoints in all entry points to Pangasinan, including arterial roads from Tarlac, Zambales and Nueva Vizcaya leading to Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, many of the hog raisers in Barangay Apalen are resisting the culling of their hogs and insist that blood samples of their stock be tested first. (Leonardo Micua/Helen Martin)

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