DAVAO CITY, July 13 (PIA)—An official of the City Veterinary Office bared that the African Swine Fever (ASF) that affected some barangays in February 2020 is eventually controlled.

Dr. Cherrie Rayos, assistant city veterinarian revealed that the ASF is no longer detected in Davao City but monitoring is intensified due to the presence of the disease in the surrounding areas and even in Regions X and III or Caraga. 

She maintained that the ASF affects neighboring municipalities and provinces in Davao Region consequently upsetting the prizes of meat products. 

Rayos said meat products and even live pigs can be accessed outside Davao City whether Davao Region or outside Davao Region.  

“Some of these areas are affected by the ASF, it is certain that the supply of meat products in the city will also reduce,” she said.

Rayos said not all areas can sell their livestock to Davao City especially if these areas are affected by the ASF because laws against the spread of ASF are strictly enforced in Davao City. 

The Task Force Davao checkpoints in Sirawan, Toril, Lacson in Calinan and Lasang in Bunawan are the current monitoring posts of the City Veterinary Office.

She stressed the City Veterinarian’s Office wants that all areas affected by the ASF in the city will eventually recover from the losses, brought about by the culling of all pigs. 

Rayos also disclosed the operation of the City Pound in June 8, with its new location from the diversion road in Ma-a to Malagos, Calinan, where the animal rehabilitation center and animal crematorium are situated. 

She said the city pound is working with 20 to 30 dogs caught per day from various areas of the city. 

Rayos lamented that many dogs are just left astray due to irresponsible pet-ownership.

“There are many irresponsible pet owners in the city, who do not mind their dogs to have gone astray,” she said.

Rayos revealed these dogs will be euthanized once they are not claimed by their owners. 

She also underscored that not all dogs will be rehabbed not all dogs are also fit for rehabilitation.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem Dalumpines)