THE local government, through the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet), continues to advocate strict food safety and veterinary procedures to keep Zamboanga City African swine fever (ASF) free.
Dr. Mario Arriola, OCVet head, said strike operations and information drive form part of the local government’s continued efforts for ASF prevention in cooperation with concerned national government and enforcement agencies.
Arriola said they hold regular meetings with members and stakeholders of the meat industry to keep them properly informed on the updates of ASF watch.
He said the strike operations in outlets selling canned and processed foods are coordinated to monitor the local market and confiscate meat products that are sourced from identified countries with ASF.
Arriola said his office in coordination with other concerned government agencies have already seized several canned pork coming from ASF affected countries like China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
The national government remains on alert to prevent the entry of ASF in the country, he added.
A five-pronged approach has been adopted for ASF prevention, and these are to ban pork imports from countries with ASF cases, avoid swill feeding, block entry at international ports, education and information, and submission of samples.
Meanwhile, Arriola urged residents to abide by these measures, particularly in not bringing in and buying canned pork products from ASF-affected countries. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)