A TOTAL of 128 kilograms of frozen and processed meat have been confiscated in Davao region since the nationwide ban of pork export started in September 2018 following the outbreak of African Swine Flu (ASF).
In the report shown by the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) Davao, a total of 11 kilograms of frozen meat was confiscated and destroyed in November 2018.
In December 2018, 48.96 kilograms frozen meat and 48 kilograms of processed meat were confiscated and destroyed.
On January 8, 2019, they confiscated 20 kilograms of assorted processed meat from China and Hong Kong.
Last September 2018, the government temporarily banned the importation of domestic and wild pigs and other products including pork meat from China, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine which was followed by import ban of pork meat from seven more other Asian and European countries.
DA-BAI Davao Region Quarantine Officer Ma. Teresa Bacayo said Friday, January 18, that the confiscated meat were handcarried by passengers from Davao International Airport.
“We do strict inspection of handcarried items and confiscation of items considered possible carrier of the virus,” Bacayo said.
Even those countries which are allowed to ship pork meat into the country still have to undergo strict inspection.
Meanwhile, DA-Disease Monitoring and Surveillance Section Armie Capuyan said that aside from banning pork imports from countries where there are recorded cases of ASF, DA also focuses on massive information dissemination to make people more aware of the new virus.
“Ipinaparating natin sa lahat ng mga stakeholders at sa public na dito sa atin, wala pong ASF. It is safe to eat pork kasi hindi po ito nakakaapekto sa tao,” Capuyan said as she encouraged the public to ask reliable sources for information about ASF.