Capitol deploys quarantine officers in nine Cebu ports

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Veterinary Office personnel were deployed starting yesterday to conduct quarantine operations and border control at nine ports in Cebu Province. Two to three PVO personnel are assigned in each port.

The ports monitored are those of Bogo City, Daanbantayan, Tabuelan, Bantayan Island, Santander, Medellin, Samboan, San Remigio, and Camotes Island.

“Sugod na ang deployment sa mga quarantine officers sa mga selected ports here sa Cebu,” said Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

He said the quarantine office asked assistance from the provincial government.

“We are helping them. Atong Vet Office diri will be deploying. We also asked the LGUs to lend us some personnel,” he added.

The assigned personnel are to check all livestock which will be shipped in or out of Cebu. Those who will pass in the inspection will be given a Veterinary Health Certificate while those who won’t will have their shipment temporarily quarantined.

As stated in the personnel’s travel order, they are to do “surveillance and monitoring of diseases” from August 23 to 31.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture(DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told reporters in Manila that he is drafting an order to lift the chicken ban. He added that his order is based from the recommendation of the bio-security team and within the conformity of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

“That’s good news but di lang sa gyud ta mo-kumpyansa. I am convinced nga safe ta diri,” Davide remarked.

Despite this, DA-7 will continue to implement the tight procedures especially shipments from Luzon until they receive the official order and guidelines from the DA Secretary. —/FPL (FREEMAN)