CLARK FREEPORT—While clarifying that pork is safe, the local office of National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) on Wendesday stressed the need to look for a Meat Inspection Certificate before buying it and its by-products.
NMIS Regional Technical Director Orlando Ongsotto urged the public to be vigilant in buying processed meat and pork and asked them to demand for those duly inspected by the agency.
“Only meat inspected by the NMIS is safe for public consumption,“ Ongsotto said during the monthly Kapihan of the Pampanga Press Club dubbed as Talk Widus held at Widus Hotel.
This is to safeguard public health from the African Swine Fever (ASF) scare, Ongsotto furthered.
“Athough hindi naman nakakahawa sa tao, pero we need to protect the safety of every consumers here,” Ongsotto added.
He also urged all slaughterhouses – whether from the local government unit, triple A and double A – should issue MIC for meat products on a daily basis.
“Kapag walang MIC ang isang tindahan ng meat that is a proof na galing sila sa illegal na slaughterhouse at pwede kang makulong,” Ongsotto furthered.
Ongsotto warned hog raisers to stop feeding their pigs with swill or kaning-baboy.
The NMIS, he said, even warned food establishments in the region not to sell their leftover foods as it is the source of ASF.
Under the security protocol, Ongsotto said, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has set up a 1-kilometer radius quarantine checkpoint in areas of infected farms. All suspected farms with ASF are subject for depopulation.
Also, a 7-kilometer radius, and a stricter movement is being implemented for testing animals to determine the extent of infection.
As of press time, Pampanga is ASF free as Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda issued a temporary ban on entry of pork and pigs in the province.
With this, the NMIS has deputized 20 local meat inspectors and six veterinarians for a close monitoring of the meat and meat products in the region.
Ongsotto said the NMIS will have its Meat Safety Conciousness Week dubbed as “Karneng pagkain sapat at ligtas, masagang ani at mataas na kita ang katumbas” slated on October 14, 2019.
