Duterte OKs release of P221 million to hog raisers

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has given the go-signal for the use of the P221-million contingent fund from the Office of the President to compensate hog raisers whose pigs were culled due to African swine fever (ASF), presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday.

To address the ASF  issue, Panelo said Duterte approved Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s request to use the remaining contingent fund of the Office of the President for the indemnification of hog raisers.

Dar said the P221 million is part of the P1-billion contingency fund from the Office of the President.

Duterte also approved the designation of cold storage areas in the ports of Manila, Subic, Batangas, Cebu and Davao for 100 percent monitoring of the entry of meat products. 

Panelo said the agriculture secretary reported during the recent Cabinet meeting the efforts undertaken by the agency in addressing the ASF issue.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it had secured P1 billion from the Department of Budget and Management to compensate backyard hog raisers whose hogs died or had to be culled due to ASF. 

The amount doesn’t cover commercial hog raisers. The funds would cover five percent of the total swine population, estimated at 12.8 million.

Panelo added that the President is satisfied with the way the DA is handling ASF in the country.

The DA is currently giving P5,000 to every affected hog raiser in addition to the assistance provided by local government units.

The DA has confirmed cases of ASF in Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon City, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Malabon and Caloocan City.

The DA has so far killed over 70,000 hogs since the outbreak started in August.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) has asked Cebu to consider “win-win” solutions in tackling ASF while working with industry players.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia had decided to extend the ban on pork products from Luzon to June 2020 in a bid to prevent the entry of ASF into the province.

“We recognize the prerogative of Governor Gwen to extend the ban to June 2020. This is based on her appreciation of the pros and cons of her choices based on the inputs of her technical and business advisory teams,” PAMPI said in a statement.

PAMPI said it would continue to advance the meat processing industry and maintain its commitment to truthfulness in its advocacy to educate consumers and stakeholders.

Suspend pork importation

Sen. Francis Pangilinan proposed that the government suspend pork importation and start buying local meat, and appealed to all sectors in the hog industry to cooperate with the DA as it implements measures to prevent the spread of ASF.

“This will be a big boost to local hog raisers, many of whom are also farmers seeking to increase their income through hog raising. We must explore all possible means to help our backyard hog raisers as they bear the brunt of losing their source of income,” he said.

Since last year, the Philippines haPangilinan urged raisers to immediately report to the DA if pigs are showing any symptoms of ASF, as the DA initiates quick response and tightens its surveillance over affected areas while keeping a close watch on neighboring barangays.

“To stop the spread of ASF, establish quarantine checkpoints in affected barangays to ensure that affected pig or pork products remain in the area,” Pangilinan said.

Meanwhile, authorities held the driver of a van and seized 100 kilos of pork “chicharon” at a checkpoint in Barangay Bio, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur last Wednesday. 

Police identified the driver as Wilfred Basilio, 41, of Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Reports said Basilio failed to present shipping permits and subjected his vehicle, a Nissan Urvan Escalade with license plates ZTN-322, to inspection.

The chicharon (fried pork rind) products were brought to the Tagudin police station. 

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Education to heighten precautionary measures and prevent students from eating ASF-contaminated pork products.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, called for DepEd’s vigilance following reports that processed meat products from China tested positive for ASF. The DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) also confirmed that skinless longganisa and hotdog from a certain manufacturer tested positive for ASF.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), ASF is introduced into a herd when contaminated raw pork is eaten by a pig. The virus spreads when pigs get into direct contact with other pigs. Food waste, feed and garbage can also cause ASF when ingested by pigs.

Gatchalian strongly advises DepEd to involve parents in efforts to raise awareness on sanitary practices and preventive measures.

In a bid to prevent entry of food products that may contain ASF, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reminded the public yesterday that imported meat and pork products must first be inspected and cleared by the DA before their release. 

BOC spokesman and assistant commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla said they are now strictly implementing the Food Safety Act of 2003, which mandates inspection and clearance procedures on all imported food products by the DA and DOH. 

Under the law, Maronilla said that the inspection will be done at the first port of entry to determine compliance with national regulations and before the assessment for tariff and other charges. 

“Such regulation is being implemented by the BOC to ensure the safety of consumers by preventing entry of food that may contain diseases, in particular the African swine fever,” Maronilla said.  – With Louise Maureen Simeon, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Robertzon Ramirez

Before the entry of agricultural products, Maronilla said that the DA and BOC are conducting initial inspection of goods in reefer containers before final examination by the BAI, Bureau of Plant Industry and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at their accredited warehouses.