BESAO, Mountain Province — The local government here showed that it is serious in implementing the provincial ban on the entry of live swine/pigs, fresh and frozen pork, and pork products into the province to prevent the entry of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Personnel of the municipal police station and the Office of the Municipal Agriculture last week confiscated about 25.75 kilograms of frozen pork products from a closed van selling these.
The confiscated products were disposed by burying them in the presence of Mayor Johnson Bantog III, and Councilors Joel Lacsigen and Elizabeth Buyagan and staff of the Provincial Veterinary Office (|PVO).
Dr. Doris Cobaldez of the PVO said the products were confiscated per Executive Order No. 21 issued by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. declaring a temporary ban on the entry of live swine/pigs, fresh and frozen pork, and pork products into the province to prevent the entry of ASF, and its local counterpart, Besao Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2019-64.
It is also in violation of Administrative Order No. 4 of the Department of Agriculture under quarantine measure which provides that transportation of live animals, meat products and meat by-products is prohibited unless accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and a Shipping Permit issued by Bureau of Animal Industry and its regional veterinary quarantine offices; and for food safety measures, all meat and meat by-products should be accompanied by National Meat Inspection Service or LGU Meat Inspection Certificate issued by meat inspectors assigned in the slaughterhouse.
As a mitigating measure, quarantine checkpoints were put up in the province. The PVO reproduced and distributed IEC materials to public utility vehicles and distributed tarpaulins provided by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to the different municipalities.
As of October 2019, the PVO reported 554 head of live pigs were transported outside the province which were issued with Veterinary Health Certificates and Shipping Permits. **JDP/JBS-PIA CAR, Mtn. Province
