The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02) in tandem with various local government units (LGUs) and other allied agencies shall put up additional checkpoints in Cagayan Valley to ensure that Cagayan Valley remains free from African Swine Fever (ASF).

According to Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo, checkpoints will be established in Malico, Sta. Fe in Nueva Vizcaya, Solana, Tuao and Enrile in Cagayan and Quezon, Mallig, Aurora and Sta. Maria in Isabela.

“We need to continuously exert our effort together so that our region will not be affected by the disease,” he said.

Edillo already met with officials of Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and agreed to strengthen the operation of checkpoints.

Meanwhile, a technical team was already dispatched to immediately coordinate with the concerned municipal LGU for the establishment of checkpoints.

According to reports, cases were already observed in Panganisan, particularly the towns of Sual and Binmaley.

For Northern Luzon, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera are the only regions that have no reported cases of ASF.

“Our being ASF free is the fruit of unified efforts of stakeholders last year,” Edillo added.

“Makakaya ulit natin ngayong taon dahil sa tuluy-tuloy na pagtutulungan ng bawat sektor ng lipunan.”