Barangay biosafety officers are actively operating in 22 towns and cities across Negros Oriental to prevent an outbreak of the African Swine Fever.
Jaymar Vilos, spokesperson for the Provincial Veterinary Office, told the media Tuesday that each local government unit deployed three biosafety officers to monitor communities and submit monthly reports related to ASF surveillance.
“The national government issued guidelines for establishing [teams of] barangay biosafety security officers in January this year, and LGUs complied by June. The BBOs became fully operational in October,” Vilos said.
Barangay biosafety officers receive their compensation from the national government through the Department of Agriculture.
Three LGUs (Dauin, Bacong, and Canlaon City) that did not meet the deadline for organizing teams of biosafety personnel are no longer eligible for the national government incentive.
Trained by the Agriculture Training Institute, DA Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office, and the PVO, barangay biosafety officers are responsible for collecting blood samples and other monitoring activities essential to the prevention of ASF.
In addition to facilitating rapid government action in case of an ASF outbreak, the biosafety officers’ monthly reports inform LGU decision-making regarding the trade of live hogs.
Currently, no new ASF cases have been reported in Negros Oriental since the last outbreak in Valencia town in September.
The PVO has confirmed that live hogs may now be shipped from the Province, provided that LGUs can certify ASF-free status. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
