(Photo grabbed from web)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — From Bulacan, the dreaded African swine flu (ASF) has slithered into this province despite strict quarantine measures implemented by Gov. Dennis Pineda.
This was confirmed this week by Agriculture Sec. William Dar who said there are now more than 13 areas affected with ASF, including those in Pangasinan. Details on affected areas in Pampanga were not disclosed, but agriculture officials said that pigs in the affected areas were all killed and properly buried.
Earlier, Pineda issued Executive Order No. 34, banning the entry of all live pigs in the province.
“We want to make sure that ASF will not be able to enter us so that the livelihoods and health of Kapampangans will not be compromised,” Pineda had said.
He said checkpoints placed by the police are to remain at the provincial boundaries to prevent pigs from other provinces, especially in areas where the ASF is confirmed, from entering the province.
In Pangasinan, legal officer Geraldine Baniqued said the infected hogs were being smuggled into Pangasinan after some pigs were banned in Bulacan.
On September 25, authorities caught a trader bringing in 60 pigs from Bustos, Bulacan through the barangay road – in an attempt to avoid detection.
“Before this happened the province is ASF-free, dahil lang sa greediness ng one trader napakarami po naapektuhan,” said Baniqued.
The Pangasinan Provincial Government temporarily suspended the entry of hogs and other pork products in the area.
aniqued said traders caught smuggling pigs are set to face a P5,000 fine and six months imprisonment.
According to Dar, the government has culled around 20,000 pigs, 6,600 of which tested positive for ASF.
However, he clarified that the ban will be temporary and will be lifted based on the advice of the Bureau of Animal Industry.
“With respect to pork and pork-related products, only those with National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) seal or with appropriate Certificate of Meat Inspection issued by NMIS shall be allowed entry into the province, with the exception of those coming from ASF affected area,” he said.
Aside from the banning of live pigs, the executive order also covers the creation of the Pampanga ASF Task Force tasked to create a contingency plan.
