SAGADA, Mountain Province– The entry of live pigs, pork and pork products is banned in this town to ensure that it remains free from the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Mayor James Pooten issued Executive Order No. 56-2019, “Banning the entry of live pigs, fresh pork, and pork products without accompanying veterinary health clearances, National Meat Inspection Services permits and proper shipping permits to the municipality of Sagada.”
This order reinforces the municipal council resolution urgently calling and alerting the public to avoid the purchase of fresh pork, frozen foods made of pork and other related pork products coming outside the municipality of Sagada due to the continuing alert on ASF affecting some areas in Luzon.
“There is an urgent need to ban pork and its products for the protection of the swine industry of the municipality of Sagada particularly the livelihood of the people of Sagada thru the production of the famous ‘etag’ or smoked meat,” Pooten said.
Etag production, which is among the major livelihoods and the produce of the municipality, should be protected from the ASF to ensure the safe preservation and processing of the pork, he said.
Pooten said all etag processors are refrained from using imported pork. They are required to use pork from the local producers in the municipality only.
The public which includes Sagada residents and tourists are advised not to buy or bring in to the municipality fresh pork and other take-out food containing pork products.
The Sagada Inns and Homestay Association members are enjoined to be vigilant and inform their guests in advance not to bring raw pork or pork products in town. It has been a practice that visitors bring in their own food to be cooked during their stay in the municipality.
Bus drivers, conductors and inspectors are also advised to make sure that all their passengers do not bring in pork and other pork products as well as food scraps coming from outside Sagada.
All hog owners should refrain from swill feeding or feeding food scraps to the pigs while vendors should not buy and sell imported pork.
Pooten said that during the scheduled market day in the town, entrepreneurs come in the municipality to sell their products freely but with the release of the EO, the municipal agriculture office together with the police would be conducting quarantine checkpoints at the different entry/exit of Sagada to ensure that entry of pork and pork products is monitored. **JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR
