THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao will not recommend banning the importation of pork from other countries, this even with the African Swine Fever (ASF) scare.
However, the agency is urging the city to take serious measures in preventing the virus from entering the city as it may affect many local hog raisers.
DA-Davao disease monitoring and surveillance unit chief Armie Capuyan said on Tuesday, August 27, that the country, particularly Davao City is free from ASF, an epidemic virus that has the capacity to destroy the country’s P260-billion livestock industry.
However, she said the city still has the authority to recommend importation ban depending on the situation.
“Gusto natin ma-prevent na di tayo mapasukan ng ASF especially na marami nang countries ang nakapalibot sa atin, which we are having trade with. Kaya nga need i-intensify ng mga lawmakers and other stakeholders ang campaign against this virus (We wanted to prevent the possible entry of ASF here, especially that we are nearby trading countries wherein ASF is worrisome. There is a need to intensify the campaign in collaboration with our lawmakers and other stakeholders against the virus),” Capuyan told reporters after her speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Representatives from DA and other stakeholders were invited by the 19th City Council to talk about ASF and the city’s status.
In her speech, Capuyan recommended the city to form an ASF Prevention Task Force to formulate contingency plans in case the virus eners the city premises.
She also urged hog farmers to look for alternative swine feedings, which she said is one of the possible source of ASF and other animal diseases.
The official also recommended for the disinfection of slaughter houses to prevent potential widespread of viruses, as well as strengthen quarantine checkpoints in all transport areas in the city.
“City and provinces, and other neighboring LGUs (local government units) must also strengthen their border control. Any smuggled shipment of animals with no pertaining permit or document must be confiscated to prevent it from entering their area,” she said, adding undocumented shipment of animals is one possible way of transporting viruses.
Councilors Danilo Dayanghirang and Conrado Baluran also urged for an immediate action on this matter.
Dayanghirang said there is no need to pass another resolution or ordinance but to enforce existing policies for the prevention of ASF in the city.
Baluran, meanwhile, said there is a need to tap the police authority in this measure.
“We must take action on this matter because Christmas season is fast approaching,” Baluran said, adding that pork is “highly in-demand” during Christmas season.
ASF is a virus that causes a hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in domestic pigs; some isolates can cause death of animals as quickly as a week after infection. She also said the virus is not human-transmittable.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a temporary ban on the importation, distribution, and sale of all processed pork products coming from China, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia, South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mongolia, Moldova, and Belgium.