ILOILO – Between January and the first week of this month, the Provincial ASF Task Force intercepted 841 kilograms of meat products from areas reeling from the African Swine Fever (ASF).
The taskforce, managed by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), seized pork longganisa, chicharon, tocino, pork embutido, cooked ham, ham strips, bacon, marinated pork, siomai, and pork adobo, among others.
These came from Pampanga, Bulacan, Manila, Quezon City, Laguna, Isabela, Batangas, and North Cotabato, said PVO head Dr. Darel Tabuada, and were seized at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Dumangas port, Estancia port and other entry points of the province.
They were subsequently disposed by incineration in the towns of Pototan and Badiangan.
The confiscation of products from ASF-hit areas was in line with Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-250 (African Swine Fever Prevention Ordinance) that 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.
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
