CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government has deactivated its border checkpoints against African Swine Fever (ASF) but continues an intensive monitoring in the port area, supermarkets, and slaughterhouses to ensure the city remains ASF-free.
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) head, Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, said that border checkpoints were no longer necessary considering that the Cebu provincial government has its own inspection team conducting checkpoints in the north and in the south.
“Gi-deactive lang tong mga border control sa mga dalan but and sa pier, padayon lang gihapon,” Maribojoc told The Freeman.
“Before sila muabot a Cebu City naa nay nag-bantay sa North and South…so double na atong gibuhat…Sa Cebu port lang, wala silay hold, so maong naa gihapon tay inspectors didto,” Maribojoc added.
She said that personnel from the border checkpoints were utilized for other activities of DVMF while the others were augmented in the port area. Maribojoc, however, noted that travelers are now compliant of the protocols against ASF.
“Based sa atong data, ni tuman naman gud ang atong mga byahidor sa mga documents…compliant na gyud sila,” said Maribojoc.
DVMF’s continuing surveillance also showed the city’s hog industry remains safe from ASF. Nevertheless, the city government is not letting its guard down.
According to Maribojoc, DVMF continues to deploy inspectors in slaughterhouses, supermarkets, and public markets on a daily basis.
“Naa miy inspector sa mga ihawan…naa sad tay mga inspectors nag-check sa mga supermarkets, sa mga merkado which is naa gyud pud tay na confiscate gyud,” she said.
DVMF personnel confiscated on Thursday pork canned goods from Luzon from a store in the city.
“Unfortunately, naa gihapoy mga dry goods nga pork products coming from those areas nga dapat dili makasulod, automatic confiscate jud na siya,” Maribojoc said.
Maribojoc reminded everyone that pork meat and other pork products from Luzon, Mindanao, and parts of regions 6 and 8 are still banned in Cebu.
“Bawal gihapon (ang pork and pork products from) any parts of Luzon, Mindanao, and parts of region 8, including Panay Island ug Guimaras Island. Automatic jud na sila nga banned diri,” Maribojoc said.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has adopted the executive order issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia banning the entry of hogs and pork products from Luzon, Iloilo and the three provinces in Panay Island Capiz, Antique and Aklan in the Visayas since last year due to confirmed cases of ASF in the area.
The ban was supposed to be until December last year but was extended indefinitely.
She said that the different barangays of the city have actively involved in the monitoring against ASF. In fact, the DVMF has been conducting orientation seminars for awareness and the creation of the barangay quick response team on ASF for preventive measures.
With the info-campaign, surveillance, monitoring, and insurance of hog-raisers, they are now ready in case such disease becomes a threat here, Maribojoc said.
Although not harmful to humans, the virus is highly contagious and fatal to swine and could cripple the hog industry of the Cebu Island if infected.- FPL (FREEMAN)