Cebu City beefs up border control against ASF

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government, through the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), is adding more personnel for better monitoring and inspection of all pork meat and products at its borders amid the continuing threat of the African Swine Fever (ASF).

ASF, according to the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration, is a highly contagious and deadly swine disease that can affect both farm-raised and feral (wild) pigs. ASF doesn’t infect people, but it is readily passed from one pig to another by direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected pig.

Currently, only pork meat and products from Central Visayas and Western Visayas are allowed entry into Cebu City as per report from the Public Information Office.

“Ang sa atoa man gud, sa African Swine Fever, gi-adopt nato na Executive Order sa (Cebu Province),  bawal ang Region 8 kay positive sila og ASF, bawal tanan Luzon areas ug Mindanao areas. The only product makaanhi dinhi pangbuhi na baboy is coming from within Region 7 and Region 6 lang,” said DVMF head Jessica Maribojoc.

Maribojoc said they are fielding in more personnel at the borders of Cebu City, especially since ASF has already reached Camiguin Island.

“Naa na sa Camiguin. Pila nalang ka tikang duol siya sa Bohol,” said Maribojoc.

Even pork products from South Korea and China are also being closely monitored. This after cases of ASF have also been detected in some farms in these countries.

“Kun mahimo wala gyud coming from South Korea. Lately lang sad, last week, nakakuha na sad me aside sa katong Lanao Del Norte nga pork product, naa na sad from the South Korea and China,” said Maribojoc.

Aside from the borders, the city government is also closely monitoring slaughterhouses here.

Earlier this week, DVMF was able to seize a total of 74 kilos of pork meat from undisclosed sources.

Chicken Prices

Meanwhile, the department has already checked the cause of the sudden increase in prices of chicken in the city at the start of July.

DVMF found out that the source of chicken in Cebu City, which is from the City of Naga, has momentarily stopped operation as it underwent inspection with the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) for its permit.

“Nag-promise sila nga a week after, like second Saturday mobalik ang operation.  So mao to, nitaas ang price. Then at the same time, atong source dinhi sa Cebu City, which ang double A na ihawan, nagdungan sila for re-evaluation. Mao to nag stop (sab),” said Maribojoc.

With this, prices of chicken are now being lowered anew and supply is going steady to complement with the supply of pork. — JMD (FREEMAN)