Shellfish in Davao safe, BFAR says

(File Photo)
(File Photo)

THE Davao City Veterinarian's Office (CVO) assured the public that all the shellfish being sold in the public market were not sourced from red tide-affected areas.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Davao regional office (BFAR) 11 issued a red tide advisory, after finding Balite Bay in Mati City, Davao Oriental and coastal waters of Santa Maria in Davao Occidental positive for red tide toxin.

Areas of San Pedro Bay in Western Samar, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, and coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol were also found positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

However, CVO-Meat, Livestock, and Fish Inspection Division head Clarita Tellano said on Thursday that the city sources shellfish from Jiabong in Samar.

Tellano assured that CVO said strict measures are implemented before the allowance of these seafoods to enter the city.

"Kini atong taho nga ginasupply sa palengke, gikan na sa Bankerohan Market, wherein naa tay tulo ka supplier (These shellfish that are being distributed to our markets, mostly comes from Bankerohan Market, wherein we have three suppliers)," the CVO official said during the iSpeak media forum Tuesday, April 16, at the City Hall of Davao.

Tellano said a series of testing are being conducted before these products will be shipped from Jiabong to Davao City.

"Kini atong mga taho, ginatest gyud nato kung aduna ba kini red tide. Maong mangayo gyud mi og auxiliary permit from the municipal officer nila ug sa ilahang City Health, to certify nga kining mga shellfish from the point of origin kay free from (red tide) toxin (These seashells would undergo series of test before it will be shipped. That is why our city will be asking for an auxiliary permit from their municipal office and from their City Health, to certify that these shellfish are free from redtide toxins)," she said.

Overall, she said shellfish sold in the local markets are still safe for consumption.

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