Oro anti-ASF task force mulled

The 20th City Council headed by City Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez is set to enact an ordinance creating the Cagayan de Oro City Anti-African Swine Fever (ANTI-ASF) Task Force and Technical Working Group (TWG), adopting and implementing the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay”, also known as the BABAY ASF Program.

This, after the City Council committee on agriculture chaired by Councilor Jay R. Pascual during its meeting last week endorsed for approval of the said proposed ordinance.

ASF is a severe viral disease that affects all breeds of domestic and wild pigs in the country and has already caused grave production and economic losses in Luzon and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

The ordinance seeks to strengthen and institutionalize LGU engagement for ASF prevention and control, establish an effective ASF monitoring, surveillance and reporting system, strengthen biosecurity measures at the farm level and border control, among others.

By virtue of DA AO No. 43, Series of 2020, an Anti-ASF Task Force shall be created to oversee the implementation of the ordinance and other related activities as may be provided by rules and regulations and guidelines promulgated by higher authority and mandated by national laws.

It shall formulate local issuances, ordinances, and contingency plans for the ASF prevention and control measures in the city, initiate and coordinate all ASF-related activities including quick response, disease investigation, surveillance, animal movement control, information and education and logistics to relevant agencies such as the National, Regional, City and Municipal ASF Task Force, among others.

A TWG shall also be created to serve as the advisory body of the task force for the efficient implementation of the BABAY ASF Program, The Gavel learned.