AUTHORITIES assured Dabawenyos pork meat products sold in Davao City are still safe for consumption amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) found in the city.
This came after the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the first case of ASF in the city, wherein the “ground zero” or the point of origin of the hog virus was located in villages Lamanan and Dominga in Calinan District, after samples taken from dead hogs resulted positive from the virus.
Meat vendors in different public markets in the city reported a slow sale of meat products after consumers are hesitant to buy it, despite constant reminder that the virus is not harmful to human.
City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) head Dr. Cerelyn Pinili said she assured that hogs transported and slaughtered in accredited city abattoirs undergo proper inspection such as ante-mortem and post-mortem check.
Pinili said hog owners using the city abattoirs are also required to show a shipping permit and health certificate ensuring that their pigs did not acquire any disease.
“Once na musulod ang hayop, then i-slaughter sa atoang accredited slaughterhouses, safe siya kay properly inspected na siya, niagi siya ug Ante-Mortem examination ug Post-Mortem examination so safe gyud siya kaunon, so walay dapat ikahadlok (Once the hogs enter the city and slaughtered in accredited slaughterhouses, they are safe since they are properly inspected, undergo ante-mortem and post-mortem examination. This means it is safe for consumption so there’s nothing to be afraid of),” she said.
If Dabawenyos still want to be extra safe, Pinili said the consumers can check the City Vet-issued Meat Inspection Certificate usually hanging in respective meat stalls. They can also ask for the same certificate in the meat section of the malls.
Pinili also assured that the CVO continues to closely monitor ASF spread and the surveillance and monitoring operations in the two barangays and its adjacent areas with ASF cases.
She added hog producers have been advised to practice bio-security; not to allow any pig to enter the farm; to always disinfect their area, and not to feed pigs with slops or pig swill that could contain meat infected by the bacteria.
DA-Davao Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (Rafis) chief Noel Provido also assured that majority of the hogs in the city are still ASF.
Provido said they immediately implemented the “1-7-10 Protocol”, wherein the barangays are included in the one-kilometer radius. Hogs within the radius are mandated to be culled to prevent the virus from spreading.
He said live animal movements are strictly prohibited to prevent the virus from spreading.
As of press time, the official said they are still back trading how the virus entered the city premises.
However, he said they are considering swill-feeding and mixed pork products from Davao Occidental as a “highly possible” factor to the infection of some hogs in the city.
He added no reported dead hogs have reached their office after the ASF-declaration in the city. (With reports from CIO)