BUSES traveling from Luzon to Davao City will be strictly monitored, as the city intensifies its campaign against the entry of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus.
City Veterinarian's Office (CVO) Cerelyn Pinili said they already stationed four animal quarantine personnel who will be assisting the Task Force Davao in monitoring passengers and their baggage for possible entry of meat and its by-products coming from ASF-affected areas in Luzon.
Pinili said the quarantine personnel will be deployed in three checkpoints in the city: Sirawan in Toril, Lacson in Calinan, and Lasang.
"Ang concern namo is sa may Lasang, because naay bus gikan sa Manila. Ilaha pung gamit atong inspeksyonan. Nakig-coordinate nami kay sir (Consolito) Yecla (Task Force Davao commander) nga i-agi tanan item sa x-ray para in case naay meat nga gidala gikan outside Davao Region, ato ni i-confiscate (Our concern is in the Lasang area because it is where the bus routes from Manila will pass through. We already coordinated with Sir Yecla to require all items to undergo x-ray inspection, so that in case there is meat coming from outside Davao Region, we will confiscate it)," Pinili said Thursday, September 19, during the iSpeak media forum at the City Hall of Davao.
She said officials from CVO will man the city check points 24 hours a day, as part of the mandate of the recently created ASF Task Force by Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
The task force is in charge for the formulation of appropriate policies and implementation of programs to protect the public and the swine industry from the threats of ASF in the city.
Although Pinili clarified that only meat products and its by-products will be strictly monitored, she said they would still require all livestock animals to undergo inspection and to present the necessary documents, such as a veterinary health certificate and an animal inspection certificate.
"Kung wala sila'y ma-present nga dokumento sa ato, ato gyud ning ipabalik kung aha ni sila naggikan (If they fail to present these documents, we will be sending it back to its origin)," Pinili said.
Meanwhile, she said all buses and passengers would have to undergo foot bath to ensure that the virus will not be able to enter the city premises.
Although she said the city is still "ASF-free," it is possible for the virus to enter the city if the hog-raisers and the public will not cooperate and follow "biosecurity" measures.
She also urged the public to patronize locally-produced pork products as they are safe for consumption.