ILOILO – A total of 627 assorted items from areas affected by the African swine fever (ASF) were confiscated by the Iloilo Provincial ASF Task Force this month.
According to Dr. Darel Tabuada of the Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office, these items were seized from various supermarkets and at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town.
The items, which included assorted canned products, pork chicharon and sarsa, among others, were disposed of in Pototan town on Tuesday.
“Ang ila products may ingredients nga pork and gin-manufacture sa areas affected with ASF such as Luzon and Mindanao,” Tabuada told Panay News.
Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-250 (African Swine Fever Prevention Ordinance) bans livestock transport carriers and hog vans from entering this province without disinfection certificate and/or ASF-free certificate from their points of origin or ports of exit.
It also bans live pig, boar semen, pork and pork products including food items containing pork originating from, manufactured and/or processed in areas affected by ASF.
Tabuada said the concerned supermarkets and individuals were given an “Ordinance Violation Receipt” (OVR) that came with a penalty of P2,000 (for the first offense).
“Ang reminders ko lang sa aton nagabaligya, especially sa supermarkets, and even online sellers and others nga naga-engage sa sini nga produkto, ang probinsya sang Iloilo seryoso sa pag-implementar sang amon nga ordinansa,” Tabuada said.
He added: “Para indi sila ma-apprehend kag indi ma-confiscate ila products, indi na lang sila magpadala sang pork products sa Iloilo kay once madakpan, sigurado nga ma-suffer sang consequences ang ila obra.”
Under the provincial ordinance, a violator faces the following penalties:
* first offense – P2,000 or five-day imprisonment
* second offence – P3,500 or 10-day imprisonment
* third and subsequent violations – P5,000 or 15-day imprisonment/PN
