DUMAGUETE City – More than 200 kilos of frozen pork and other pork byproducts have been confiscated from public markets here and in nearby Valencia town, Negros Oriental amid tightened measures to prevent the entry of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)-Dumaguete quarantine officer Dr. Alfonso Tundag said Tuesday’s confiscation was the beginning of similar activities to ensure the province remains ASF-free.
Joint teams of BAI, provincial veterinary office, and local government unit (LGU) seized “unauthorized” frozen and processed products such as longganiza, chorizo, hotdogs, and siomai.
Unauthorized products are those without labels, product and manufacturer information, and list of ingredients, with most of them coming from Cebu province, said Tundag.
The confiscated items were treated with chemicals and buried.
The selling of these products violated Executive Order No. 13, signed by the late Gov. Roel Degamo on March 3, imposing a total ban on live hogs, raw and processed meat, and other by-products from ASF-affected areas, including Cebu.
The fortification of anti-ASF measures in Negros Oriental came amid similar actions taken by the Cebu provincial government in banning live hogs, sows, piglets, pork, pork-related products, and boar semen from Negros Island.
The Cebu ban came after the BAI Regional Office said contaminated pigs originated from Negros Island. It did not specify whether it came from the Negros Oriental or Occidental provinces.
Vice Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria said while they believe the ban is unfair, it would be better to wait until April 5 or when the 45-day ban is lifted.
He would also ask Cebu officials not to extend the ban, considering the Negros provinces remain ASF-free.
Regular surveillance and blood sampling are being done in Negros Oriental.
Veterinarians from the cities of Dumaguete, Guihulngan, Bais, Tanjay, and Bayawan reassured the public that, so far, they have not received reports of suspected ASF deaths. (PNA)/PN
