In light of the bulletin issued by the Department of Agriculture confirming African swine fever (ASF) in the country, there is an urgent need for biosecurity measures to protect Dabawenyos from this exotic disease. Hence, the need to understand the term biosecurity and the need for the city to come up with a biosecurity plan.
In the particular case of the ASF, biosecurity measures should include increased screening measures, and testing a sample of pork products seized at international airports and domestic entry points for ASF.
Local hog raisers in Davao have made their recommendation to the city government to impose biosecurity measures in airports and entry points in Davao City to prevent the entry of contaminated pork. Another aspect of biosecurity to consider is farm biosecurity which requires a set of measures designed to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests and diseases. Farm biosecurity is the responsibility of farm owners, and that of every person visiting or working on the property.
The recommendation by the local hog raisers belonging to the Hog Farmers Association of Davao Inc. (HOGFADI) could eventually lead to a comprehensive biosecurity plan for the city. It may take further studies and research on exactly what the city needs to address at this point and in the near future. Biosecurity could be tricky as it involves a set of linked science based protocols and procedures aimed at stopping unwanted pests and diseases from entering a territory, detecting and rapidly eradicating them if they do arrive, or (if they become established) trying to minimise their impact by using long-term management strategies. However, it is important to recognize that it is necessary now to embrace the biosecurity concept.
With a comprehensive biosecurity plan in place, we need not panic and react sluggishly to health alerts like the ASF.
