AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar on Wednesday, September 4, allayed concerns over the swine deaths and assured that it is safe to eat pork sold in markets.
He said meat vendors have already been directed to display on their stalls the certificates issued by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
"Huwag mabahala ang publiko kasi basta 'yung proseso na bago katayin, nandiyan ang [veterinary] health certificate. 'Pag kinatay mayroong tatak na NMIS certificate. Kung wala ang mga ito, 'wag dalhin sa [market]. Iku-kumpiska namin lahat 'yan," Dar said.
(The public should not worry because there is a process for slaughtering hogs. There should be a veterinary health certificate. There should also be a certificate from NMIS. Without such certificates, pork products would be confiscated.)
Pork sales have declined as fears spread over the African swine fever (ASF), a disease that is fatal to pigs but poses no direct and immediate danger to human health, amid the reported death of pigs in some areas in Luzon.
The NMIS has been ordered to strictly implement the "No Veterinary Health Certificate, No Slaughter" policy.
As part of the DA's quarantine control measures, the transportation of live animals, meat products and byproducts is prohibited unless there is a veterinary health certificate and shipping permit issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry and regional veterinary quarantine offices.
Dar declined to divulge the cause of the abnormal deaths of pigs in the country, but assured that precautionary measures are in place to ensure food safety and food security.
The Agriculture chief added that the results of the laboratory tests on increase in mortality rates of hogs would be disclosed on Friday, September 6.
"Alam ninyo kung totoo 'yung suspetsa, this will kill the whole industry. That’s why ingat muna tayo. Kaunting ingat (You know, if the suspicion is true, this will kill the whole hog industry. That's why we're being careful. We have to be careful)," Dar said.
"Kung positive naman, meron na tayong all over the country naka-in place na 'yung qarantine and food safety measures (If it tests positive, we have quarantine and food safety measures that are in place all over the country)," he added.
The Philippines has banned the entry of pork products from countries suspected to be affected by the deadly virus. The list includes China, Laos, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine. (SunStar Philippines)