ORDINANCE NO: 2023-546 Authored by: Honorable Patrisha Kaye N. Asugas "AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING SWINE FARMERS, BACKYARD OR HOG RAISERS TO REGISTER THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HEADS THEY RAISE IN BACKYARD, PIG PEN AND/OR PIGGERY TO THE BARANGAY GOVERNMENT UNIT WHERE IT IS LOCATED, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF" WHEREAS, in view of the reported rise of swine mortalities due to African Swine Fever--a severe and highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs--the Department of Agriculture issued Memorandum Circular No. 10, series of 2019, dated 10 September 2019, on the subject: "Veterinary Quarantine Movement Protocol and Reiteration of Food and Safety Measures during Animal Disease Outbreak/Emergencies," which, in gist, reminded all Provincial, City and Municipal Veterinarians, Agriculturists as well as all Meat Inspection Officers to continue implementing precautionary measures to ensure food quality and safety to safeguard general public health; WHEREAS, to further strengthen the government's campaign to prevent the spread of any animal disease, the Department of Agriculture, on December 10, 2019, issued Administrative Circular No. 12, series of 2019, or the "National Zoning and Movement Plan for the Prevention and Control of African Swine Fever," which directs, among others, local government units to institute appropriate preemptive measures to prevent the entry and/or control the ill-effects of African Swine Fever in their respective territorial jurisdiction; WHEREAS, taking into account the foregoing directives, it is thus necessary to register the total number of swine raised in the backyard, pig pen and/or piggery in order to have an actual account of the number of swine in the locality so that there is a smooth implementation of existing measures and delivery of interventions and assistance to affected hog farmers when outbreak of contamination of ASF occur; NOW, THEREFORE, be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Pagadian City (14th City Council), in regular session assembled, that: SECTION 1. TITLE - This Ordinance shall be known as "AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING SWINE FARMERS, BACKYARD OR HOG RAISERS TO REGISTER THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SWINE HEADS THEY RAISE IN BACKYARD, PIG PEN AND/OR PIGGERY TO THE BARANGAY GOVERNMENT UNIT WHERE IT IS LOCATED, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF." SECTION 2. PURPOSE - This Ordinance aims to account and monitor all sources of hog and swine in the city purposely to safeguard the general welfare and health of the consuming public. SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. - For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following terms shall be understood, applied and construed as follows: Swine - refers to pig or hog and covers the entire family of pork-producing animals; Registration - a process of registering the number of heads of swine to the Barangay Government Unit; African Swine Fever (ASF) - is the disease caused by a large, double stranded DNA virus within the asfarviridae family known as the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) which causes hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rate in domestic pigs; Swine Farmers - also known as hog farming or pig farming on commercial basis including raising and breeding of domestic pigs mostly for their meat or for food (pork products, bacon) and also for their skin; Backyard or Hog Raiser - a household or farm-based hog raiser with one (1) to twenty (20) heads of growing or adult pigs. SECTION 4. POLICY AND GUIDELINES. 4.a All Barangay Government Units within the territorial jurisdiction of Pagadian City are hereby required to: 4.a.1 To register the swine farmers, backyard or hog raiser in their barangay and the number of swine or hogs raised in the farm, backyard, pig pen or piggery within their territorial jurisdiction; 4.a.2 To register any form of disposal or any pig or swine and for whatever purpose, the same shall be recorded in the barangay for monitoring and record purposes; 4.a.3 To register any transfer of ownership of swine or hog by any mode of acquisition within the barangay; 4.a.4 To record any birth or death of any swine, hog or pig farmed or raised within their territorial jurisdiction; 4.a.5 To record any transfer of any swine, hog or pig in their territorial jurisdiction; 4.a.6 To submit their record or list above-mentioned to the Department of Agriculture through the office of the City Veterinarian on quarterly basis such that the same must be submitted every end of March, June, September and December; and 4.a.7 To record any seen or observed symptoms of any disease of swine or hog within their territorial jurisdiction and report the same immediately to the Office of the City Veterinarian. 4.b All Swine farmers and backyard or hog raisers are required to: 4.b.1 To register and report the number of swine or hog farmed or raised in the farm, pigpen and piggery to the Barangay Government Unit where the farm is located; 4.b.2 To report to the Barangay any disposal, transfer, birth or death of any swine or hog within twenty-four (24) hours from such. They are also required to report immediately when their swine, hog or pigs shows symptoms of disease or illness to the barangay; 4.b.3 To report to the barangay when swine and hog or pig is acquired or received from another barangay; 4.b.4 To submit their record of list above mentioned to the Department of Agriculture through the Office of the City Veterinarian on quarterly basis such that the same must be submitted every end of March, June, September and December; and 4.b.5 To record any seen or observed symptoms of any disease of swine or hog within their territorial jurisdiction and report the same immediately to the Office of the City Veterinarian. SECTION 5. PENAL PROVISION - Any person who fail to comply with the provisions of this Ordinance shall pay the penalty of One Thousand (Php 1,000.00) pesos for every violation. In the event that an outbreak of the ASF is declared within the barangay, any person who is found to have violated the provision of this Ordinance shall likewise pay the penalty of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) without prejudice to other sanctions provided under other existing laws and regulations. SECTION 6. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - If any provisions of this Ordinance are declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining portions which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. SECTION 7. REPEALING CLAUSE - All existing Ordinances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly. SECTION 8. EFFECTIVITY - This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication for at least three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation of the City of Pagadian or after posting in two (2) conspicuous places of the city, whichever occurs later. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (14th City Council) during its 45th Regular Session held on 16 August 2023 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor City Commercial Center Building, Santiago District, Pagadian City.