Ban on vs entry of pigs, pork products in MP

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Following the prevalence of African swine fever (ASF) that caused the death of hogs in north central Luzon, a temporary ban was declared on the entry of live swine, fresh and frozen pork and products in the Province.

Executive Order No 21 by Provincial Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan ordered the temporary prohibition of entry of live swine and swine products “until such time that a declaration is made by the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture of the assurance of the safety of the swine industry.”

Said EO enjoined the Provincial VeterinaryOffice,Provincial   Disaster   Risk    Reduction   and   Management   Office, Municipal   Mayors, Department of Trade and Industry and Philippine National Police to strictly enforce the quarantine control protocols and food safety measures.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture imposed a temporary ban on the entry of pork coming from various countries as one of the strategies to prevent the introduction of the ASF virus in the country. Malacañang has directed all government agencies to implement measures to manage, contain and control the transmission of ASF.

This, as DA officers confiscated some samples of an undisclosed brand of processed meat products of hotdog, tocino and longganisa tested positive for ASF.

The ASF has not been proven to be harmful to humans, though humans who eat swine infected with ASF could be carriers of the virus.

ASF has caused the death of a number of pigs especially in the north-central provinces of Quezon City, Rizal, Bulacan and Pangasinan.

Hogs hit with the deadly ASF virus causes hemorrhagic fever among pigs and could kill the country’s swine industry as there is yet no known cure for it.

In Sagada, entry of pork products and live pigs is banned in the municipality here to protect the public and local hog growers from economic losses.

Sagada mayor James Pooten Jr in Executive Order No 56-19 said only those with veterinary health clearances and shipping permits that have specific actual dates of delivery issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry quarantine services will be allowed entry.

In a related resolution, the Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada called for the public to avoid purchasing fresh pork, frozen foods made of pork coming from outside of the municipality and protect the local swine industry.

Avoidance include the non-purchase of ‘etag’ with machine-cut slices.

It shall be recalled that pork purchased from Baguio had been a point of complaint from some etag retailers that some etag sold in the market are made from pork purchased from Baguio thus harming the local swine industry of the town.

Said resolution was forwarded to barangay officials for their immediate information and the municipal mayor for his executive order to implement the same.

This, as comments from netizens asked for implementing rules and penalties on violations such as confiscation and establishment of check points.

Sagada resident Florence Umaming asked for the need of check points to regulate entries of questioned pork goods.

Sagada is entered via four road-entrance-exit points namely the Dante Sagada Road from the Bontoc-Baguio Road, Balili-Suyo Road from the Bontoc- Baguio Road, Sabangan-Sagada Road from the SAbangan-Bauko Road and the Besao Sagada road via Nakawang-Tadian Road. This emphasizing the need for joint municipal operations.

Sagada resident Zsazsa Omengan-Timpac forwarded the need for an abbatoir which shall serve to inspect meat products being sold in public.

The Consumer Act of the Philippines or RA 7394 calls for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure protection against hazards to public health and safety.

This aside from protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer; provision of adequate rights and means of redress; and involvement of consumer representatives in the formulation of social and economic policies.