THE Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental set up a "Boodle Feast" at the Capitol grounds to show that local pork in the province remains safe and free from African Swine Fever (ASF).
The activity is part of the culmination of the 2019 Meat Safety Consciousness Week Friday, October 18.
"Nakita nato ang katuyoan is para mapakita sa katawhan nga ang atong karneng baboy dinhi sa lalawigan safe ug limpyo pa kaunon. So, walay problema," Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Benjamin Resma said.
(We see that the purpose is to show the people that our pork here in the province is safe and clean. So, there is no problem.)
A total of 25 lechon and 152 kilos of pork cooked into barbeques and "humba" were served to Capitol employees, members of the Provincial Board, the local media, Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers, OroVet and other guests.
"It is very successful. Tanan nag-enjoy, tanan nakakaon. Dili lang ang mga empleyado, apil ang mga tagagawas nagkaon," Resma said.
(A lot enjoyed it, a lot ate. Not just the employees, but also outsiders also ate.)
Provincial Board Member Gerardo Sabal III, for his part, said the activity shows that the hog raisers of Misamis Oriental and the whole region has been very cooperative.
"As of the moment, there is no reported case of African Swine Fever in the province," Sabal said.
At present, Resma said they have been receiving reports of dead hogs in different municipalities.
However, after doing some tests, its deaths were not a result of ASF.
The Provincial Veterinary Office continues to monitor the airport, seaports and boundaries of the province to prevent the entry of frozen or fresh pork and processed pork products from Luzon and other identified ASF-affected areas in the country and abroad.
"Patuloy at tsaka walang tigil na monitoring and also enforcing the ban," Resma said.
(There is continuous monitoring and also enforcing the ban.)