(Eagle News) – The Department of Agriculture urged the Bohol and Cebu local governments to reconsider their decision to impose a total ban on all hogs and processed pork products from Luzon where some areas have tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF).
Agriculture secretary William Dar particularly asked Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Bohol governor Arthur Yap to “soften their hearts and allow the transport and trade of ASF-free hogs, pork, pork products and processed food items to and fro their respective provinces.”
This was after the two local governments issued separate directives banning the entry of pork and processed pork products from Luzon after reported ASF outbreaks in small backyard farms in Rizal and Bulacan.
“In these trying times, particularly in protecting our shores from the challenges of major diseases such as the ASF, we appeal for unity and brotherhood among our countrymen, most particularly our local chief executives,” Dar said in a statement released Saturday, September 21.
-Serious repercussions-
The DA chief said that such “hard position could create repercussions, where other provinces may retaliate by cutting off the food stocks to and fro Cebu and Bohol.”
“We would not like that to happen — isolating and depriving each other from the basic right to food,” Dar said.
The agriculture department has repeatedly assured the public that “the situation is under proper management,” even as it continuously works with concerned local government units, private swine industry leaders, the Philippine National Police, and military to effectively manage, control, and contain the threat of ASF.
While the disease does not pose any hazard or risk to humans, and other farm and domesticated animals, the DA chief said the ASF virus is very infectious among pigs, and can easily spread from one farm to another if not properly managed.
Dar said that Cebu and Bohol’s efforts to protect borders against the dreaded disease should not limit the movement of goods and food supplies, suggesting that any ban should be carefully studied.
The two provinces are huge markets for pork, processed meat products, and food items because of their growing tourism industries.
The DA also reminded consumers to buy only pork with the seal of the DA-National Meat Inspection Service, and from reputable meat shops.
-PHL meat processing industry worried-
Earlier, the members of the meat processing industry, particularly from the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. (PAMPI), aired their worries on the total ban on their meat products by some LGUs especially from the Visayas region.
They said that this ASF scare which has affected their products will have a strong impact on the economy.
“At this point in time, nakikita namin na yung information dissemination ng ating gobyerno, hindi masyadong marami. Mas marami yung scare dissemination sa mga consumers. That’s why we came out. Lahat ng probinsya nagkakaroon na ng ban maski hindi tama,” said Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., president of PAMPI.
“Can you imagine yung produkto galing Manila, hindi na makapasok sa Cebu regardless kung anong produkto – canned, frozen. Wala. Basta sabi galing sa Luzon banned,” he said.
PAMPI assured the public that their products are safe for the public’s consumption.
“PAMPI assures our consumers that all the products we produce are safe to consume. We would like to assure you that we get our raw materials only from approved sources, not approved by us, but approved by the government,” said PAMPI spokesperson Rex Agarrado.
“There’s a list of countries that we can only import from,” he said.
“Tinitiyak po namin na walang ASF virus ang mga produkto namin,” stressed PAMPI vice-president Jerome Ong.
The group is asking President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene in the situation.
