BACOLOD City – The City Council approved in second reading an ordinance creating an inter-agency task force to check the entry or the trading of any live pig, boar semen, pork and pork products from African swine (ASF) fever-hit areas.
Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., who authored the ordinance, said the ASF Task Force will take the lead in the enforcement and implementation of the ordinance and other ASF prevention and control measures.
Gamboa added the proposed ordinance shall apply to all pigs, boar semen, pork, and pork and livestock products but not limited to canned goods, and food items containing pork whether cooked or uncooked , originating from, manufactured and/or processed in Luzon and in countries affected with ASF and other livestock diseases in areas as maybe declared by the Department of Agriculture and World Organization for Animal Health.
ASF is defined by the World Organization for Animal Health, is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarvidae family.
Gamboa said the Task Force shall be composed of City Mayor as the Chairperson; City Veterinarian, as the Vice Chairperson; and the members are the chairpersons of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Markets and Slaughterhouse; Committee on Agriculture and Agrarian Concerns; Representative from the City Legal Office; Representative from the Local Bureau of Animal Industry/Animal Quarantine Service; Representative from Task Force; Representative from the City Agricultural Office; Representative from the Local Hog or Livestock Raisers Association of Bacolod; Representative from Local Philippine Coast Guard; Representative from Local Maritime Police Command; Representative from Local Department of Trade and Industry; Representative from Local City Accredited Slaughterhouse; Representative from Bacolod City Police Office; Representative from Bacolod City Health Office ; and Representative from the Public information Office./PN
