DAVAO CITY – The city government of Davao has temporarily banned the entry of live pigs and pork products following the outbreak of the dreaded African Swine Fever in some areas in Luzon.
The city government imposed the ban 16 days after the Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of the disease in the country.
Based on the executive order issued on Wednesday, the “temporary ban applies to all live pigs, pork, and pork-related products and by-products, whether fresh, frozen, processed, or cooked, including but not limited to frozen boar semen, from the entire island of Luzon and the other ASF-affected areas.”
The order also prohibits swill feeding to the backyard hog raisers to prevent the spread of the virus to other swine as the food scraps may contain infected pork meat.
Immediately after it confirmed the presence of ASF in the country, the DA has vigorously applied the “1-7-10 protocol” in ASF affected areas in Luzon, including veterinary quarantine movement protocol during animal disease outbreaks and emergencies.
According to the DA, ASF outbreaks have been controlled in Barangay Pritil, Guiguinto, Bulacan and in several barangays in Rodriguez, San Mateo, and Antipolo in Rizal.
The Food and Drug Administration had also imposed a temporary ban on pork products from ASF-hit countries and issued a warning against food business operators importing, distributing, and selling banned products.
Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, head of the City Veterinarian’s Office, said the ban seeks to ensure the city remains safe from the ASF.
Pinili said the city government has convened the ASF Task Force, comprised of the City Planning and Development Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Agriculturist Office, City Health Office, City Information Office, and commercial and backyard hog raisers as private sector representatives, which is tasked to implement Davao City African Swine Fever Protection Program. (Antonio Colina IV)