THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental deployed its veterinary inspectors to different ports in the province to strictly monitor incoming and outgoing livestock and poultry animals and its by-products, especially amid the upcoming holiday season.
PVO records showed that from January to November 2018, a total of 106,819 veterinary health certificates per shipment were issued province-wide.
This resulted in veterinary fees collection amounting to about P6.4 million, it added.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said on Wednesday, December 12, that existing players in the local livestock and poultry industry are also expanding their operations to cater to the expected increase of demand in December.
Decena said that this goes to show that during this time of the year, Christmas and New Year, domestic movement of animals and animal by-products are expected to peak.
“Veterinary inspections are generally conducted to ensure both animal and public health being transported by breeder and producers to different points of the country,” he added.
PVO has been issuing veterinary health certificate as a measure to regulate “shippers” in a form of an active surveillance on the conditions of animals particularly the diseases they might carry.
“Veterinary inspectors are deployed to the nearest seaports and airport in the province to readily conduct inspection especially of outgoing animals and animal by-product,” Decena said.
Aside from this measure, PVO is also intensifying the monitoring of local meat stalls in order to ensure price, hygienic handling, and good storage of meat and other products.
Currently, there are 279 meat stalls in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City.
Decena said veterinarians and livestock inspectors regularly monitor and update profiles of meat stalls and traders in coordination with different local government units.
“During this holiday season, it is expected that demands for fresh meat and other meat products are also higher,” he added.
PVO records further showed that the volume of animals being dressed and slaughtered in December usually increases compared to previous months.
Poultry has the highest volume followed by swine, cattle, and carabao, it added.
Animal health services of PVO are mandated to intensify the monitoring and inspection of domestic movements of live animals and by-products to prevent entry or spread of diseases.