Prohibit pork entry,Mindanao urged

MANILA, Philippines — The whole island of Mindanao is urged to prohibit the entry of pork and pork products amid the increasing cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Luzon.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) called on local governments to issue executive orders prohibiting entry of pork from areas affected by ASF, as well the practice of swill feeding by backyard raisers.

MinDA chair Emmanuel Piñol yesterday said local chiefs could address the ASF threat by prohibiting the entry of live hogs, pork and processed meats in Mindanao.

“The move to ban entry of live hogs and pork products should not be seen as a trade issue that impedes free flow of food but a temporary pro-active action to address a serious quarantine concern,” Piñol said.

“This is intended to protect the multibillion-peso hog industry which provides income and livelihood to thousands of farming families,” he added.

Mindanao hog raisers have asked Piñol to consider Mindanao as a special quarantine zone indicating Mindanao as ASF-free, yet needing the necessary organizational mechanisms to maintain the status.

Stakeholders are hoping for mechanisms to be in place and quarantine officials immediately deployed in entry points following issuance of the executive orders, according to Davao Hog Raisers Association president Eduardo So.

The group also considered swill feeding as a possible threat for the entry of ASF. Swill feeding is the practice of feeding hogs food waste which may contain infected meat.

“The governors and mayors are in better position to stop swill feeding, the local governments can issue ban of hogs import and prohibition of swill feeding altogether through an executive order, with stiffer penalties for deterrence,” Piñol said.

The city government of Davao has issued a temporary ban on the shipment of hogs and other pork products from Luzon as part of its quarantine measures.

Mayor Sara Duterte signed Executive Order 39 mandating swine raisers to practice strict biosecurity and good animal husbandry practices in their farms.

It also mandates strict vigilance on swine raisers to report suspicious deaths of their pigs.

Meanwhile, think tank Action for Economic Reforms (AER) has called on Malacañang to order the Department of Budget and Management as well as Congress to allocate supplemental budget for agriculture and health emergencies.

“We appreciate the swift action on the budget and some of the adjustments Congress has done for the 2020 budget allocation to address the needs of farmers and hog raisers,” AER’s coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana said.

“But those funds will only be available next year. Our farmers, hog raisers and the people affected by the outbreak of preventable diseases need the support now, not next year,” he added.

The group pointed out that there is bigger fiscal space in this year’s budget as President Duterte vetoed some P95 billion in supposed pork barrel funds in the 2019 General Appropriations Act. – With Edith Regalado