Santa Josefa town in Agusan Sur activates ASF task force amid outbreak
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The municipality of Santa Josefa in Agusan del Sur has been placed under a red zone classification following a surge in African Swine Fever (ASF) cases, with a total of 168 confirmed infections recorded as of August 26.
Local hog raisers have already felt the impact of the outbreak. Librado Oquino, a small-scale farmer, lamented the loss of 22 pigs to ASF. “This is really a great loss for small-time hog raisers like me. We have already invested in our piggery, from their food consumption to vitamins. Nonetheless, we’ll still strive to recover from this loss,” he said.
Municipal Agriculturist Miraluz Convocar reported that ASF cases began surfacing in mid-July. “We did our best to try to contain it in one barangay only and prevent its transmission. However, there were circumstances which were beyond our control; hence, this outbreak happened,” she said.
In response, Mayor Richard M. Plaza immediately enforced Municipal Ordinance No. 6, series of 2022, reactivating the ASF Task Force and the ‘Bantay ASF sa Barangay’ program to counter and prevent the spread of the disease. The outbreak has affected Barangays Sayon, Awaw, Santa Isabel, Pag-asa, San Jose, and Aurora.
The ordinance enforces stringent measures and inter-agency coordination, including penalties for violators, to strengthen containment efforts. To aid affected hog raisers, the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office (MAO) is assisting them in completing documentation required to qualify for the Department of Agriculture’s indemnification program.
Qualified hog raisers whose livestock were affected will receive P12,000 per sow, P8,000 per fattener, and P4,000 per weanling as cash assistance to mitigate their loss from the disease.
Mayor Plaza urged residents and barangay leaders to cooperate in addressing the crisis. “We remind all our constituents and punong barangays to work with us to solve this pressing concern as soon as possible. We ask for your cooperation,” he said.
The ASF outbreak in Santa Josefa underscores the critical role of local government units (LGUs) in swiftly responding to threats endangering both livelihoods and the local economy. By immediately enforcing ordinances, mobilizing task forces, and coordinating with national agencies, LGUs demonstrate resilience and proactive governance, ensuring that communities are protected and recovery efforts are set in motion without delay. (NJGD, PIA Caraga with a report from PTV Agusan del Sur)
