(File photo) LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - The Department of Agriculture (DA) will start delivering piglets to areas in Pangasinan that have been affected by the African swine fever (ASF) on the third week of this month as part of its hog repopulation program. In an interview during his visit to Pangasinan on Friday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said about PHP38.2 million has been allotted for the repopulation program in the province following the ASF outbreak. "The sentinels will be observed for about 90 to 120 days and then will be tested. If the tests turned negative, then the area will be declared free and they can start hog repopulation," Dar said. He added that the process of declaring an area as ASF-free has been reversed, as instead of the DA, the local government units (LGUs) would now confirm first if the area is no longer ASF-affected. "The LGUs will be the first to declare if the area is ASF-free and it will be validated by the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry so the LGUs will raise the level of surveillance. The Provincial Veterinary (Office) will observe and recommend to the governor if indeed the areas are already free," Dar said. In an interview, provincial assistant veterinarian Dr. Jovito Tabajeros said they have already prepared for the ASF recovery program by cleaning and disinfecting the areas where the sentinel hogs would be placed. The DA provided the ASF test kits, along with reader and laboratory equipment, power sprayers, ASF responder kits, and disinfectants. "One month for disinfection and 20 days (of) environmental swabbing to know if it is already safe to put sentinel pigs in these areas. And now, we could already start with the process of sentinel (animal testing)," Tabajeros said. The beneficiaries have been clustered and each cluster would be given 45 heads of hogs with feeds and vitamins, among others. He said there are a total of 116 clusters in the towns of Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Dasol, Infanta, Binmaley, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Mangaldan, Asingan, Natividad, Umingan, and San Carlos City. Tabajeros confirmed that no new ASF case has been recorded in the province. (PNA) }

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Mangaldan , Pangasinan , Philippines , Idasol , Mangatarem , Calasiao , Asingan , Bolinao , Ilocos Norte , Umingan , Iloilo , Quezon , Lingayen , San Carlos City , San Carlos , Negros Occidental , Binmaley , Jovito Tabajeros , William Dar , Veterinary Office , Department Of Agriculture , Da Bureau Of Animal Industry , Agriculture Secretary William Dar , Animal Industry , Provincial Veterinary , Ile Photo Lingayen , Angasinan The Department Of Agriculture Da Will Start Delivering Piglets To Areas In Pangasinan That Have Been Affected By African Swine Fever Asf On Third Week This Month As Part Its Hog Repopulation Program An Interview During His Visit Friday , Griculture Secretary William Dar Said About Php38 2 Million Has Been Allotted For The Repopulation Program In Province Following Asf Outbreak Quot Sentinels Will Be Observed 90 To 120 Days And Then Tested If Tests Turned Negative , Hen The Area Will Be Declared Free And They Can Start Hog Repopulation , Uot Dar Said He Added That The Process Of Declaring An Area As Asf Free Has Been Reversed , S Instead Of The Da , He Local Government Units Lgus Would Now Confirm First If The Area Is No Longer Asf Affected Quot Will Be To Declare Free And It Validated By Da 39s Bureau Of Animal Industry So Raise Level Surveillance Provincial Veterinary Office Observe Recommend Governor Indeed Areas Are Already , Uot Dar Said In An Interview , Rovincial Assistant Veterinarian Dr Jovito Tabajeros Said They Have Already Prepared For The Asf Recovery Program By Cleaning And Disinfecting Areas Where Sentinel Hogs Would Be Placed Da Provided Test Kits , Long With Reader And Laboratory Equipment , Power Sprayers , Sf Responder Kits , Nd Disinfectants Quot One Month For Disinfection And 20 Days Of Environmental Swabbing To Know If It Is Already Safe Put Sentinel Pigs In These Areas Now , E Could Already Start With The Process Of Sentinel Animal Testing , Uot Tabajeros Said The Beneficiaries Have Been Clustered And Each Cluster Would Be Given 45 Heads Of Hogs With Feeds Vitamins , Mong Others He Said There Area Total Of 116 Clusters In The Towns Agno , Honda , Ani , Sasol , Infanta , Ual , Labrador , Sta Barbara , Natividad , Nd San Carlos City Tabajeros Confirmed That No New Asf Case Has Been Recorded In The Province Pna ,