Dr. Bares said that one of the hindrances reported by the City/Municipal Agriculturists is the poor coordination between the livestock owners and the barangay officials which results in the late reporting of ASF cases.

Based on the latest monitoring in the province of La Union, Dr. Raquel Difuntorum of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian reported that only three municipalities are under the light green zone which include Bacnotan, Burgos, and Luna.

She added that those affected with the said virus and are under the red zone are the municipalities of Agoo, Aringay, Bauang, Balaoan, Pugo, Sto. Tomas, and the city of San Fernando, while 10 towns belong to the pink zone.

To flatten the curve of ASF, among the strategies under the Bureau of Animal Industry is the TIGIL or Targeted Communication, Integrated Surveillance, Geo-taged Animal and Meat Movement, Intentional Meat Product Training and Testing, and Localized Attack.

In the entire Region 1, only the province of Ilocos Norte has zero ASF cases.

Meanwhile, the DA-RFO 1 sustains its targets to provide production support servcies, which includes livelihood assistance, trainings, incentives, provisions for animal health and others, for the farmers in the region under the Livestock Banner Program as well as the Bayanihan Heal as One Act for the current year despite the challenges in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

To date, the Livelihood Assistance Program and Extension Support Services have already listed 100% and 95% accomplishments, respectively, for distributing 800 semen straws and providing incentives to agriculture extension workers (AEWs).###