ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas ordered a 90-day temporarily ban on live pigs, hog carcasses, pork, and pork products and by-products from and/or processed in localities identified by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as positive for African swine fever (ASF).
Treñas’ executive order on the ban also covers countries positive for ASF.
According to the mayor, ASF reaching this city is possible.
Iloilo City is a major entry/exit point of inter-regional conveyance through the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo and Iloilo International Port in Barangay Loboc, Lapuz district.
Iloilo City, according to Treñas, is No. 3 in terms of frequency of ship calls annually (11,853), No. 4 in cargo (491,719 metric tons) and No. 4 in passenger traffic (2.4 million).
ASF could result in high swine mortality, thereby adversely affecting the local food security, said Treñas.
“There is an urgent need to adopt preventive measures to protect the hog industry of Region 6,” he stressed.
The 90-day ban took effect on Oct. 9.
Treñas ordered it just weeks after the provincial government of Iloilo issued a similar order.
Last month, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. issued Executive Order No. 159 temporarily banning pork, pork products and by-products from Rizal and Bulacan provinces where ASF cases had been confirmed and the following countries: China, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Latvia, Poland, and Romania.
He also ordered strict veterinary quarantine procedures in seaports and at the Iloilo International Airport by the quarantine teams of the municipalities of Cabatuan, Dumangas, Ajuy, Estancia, and Carles.
Only those that meet the regulatory requirements of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) would be allowed to enter Iloilo.
The following are the requirements:
* veterinary health certificate (VHC) and veterinary shipping permit
* livestock handler’s permit
* livestock and poultry transport / carrier certificate
* certificate of vehicle registration
* disinfection clearance
* farm registration
The executive order also stated that “all swine, pork, pork products and by-products shall be accompanied by National Meat Inspection Service or Local Government Unit Meat Inspection Certificate.”/PN
