Amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) fear, the Davao City Veterinarian’s Office assured Dabawenyos pork meat sold in Davao City is safe for consumption.
Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, the Officer-in-Charge of the City Vet, further assured that hogs transported and slaughtered in accredited city abattoirs undergo proper inspection such as ante-mortem and post-mortem check.
Hog owners using the city abattoirs are also required to show a shipping permit and health certificate ensuring that their pigs did not acquire any disease.
“Once na musulod ang hayop, then i-slaughter sa atoang accredited slaughterhouses, safe siya kay properly inspected na siya, niagi siya ug Ante-Mortem examination ug Post-Mortem examination so safe gyud siya kaunon, so walay dapat ikahadlok (Once the hogs enter the city and slaughtered by in accredited slaughterhouses, they are safe since they are properly inspected, undergo Ante-Mortem and post-Mortem examination. This means it is safe for consumption. So there’s nothing to be afraid of),” Pinili stressed.
If Dabawenyos still want to be extra safe, Pinili said the consumers can check the City Vet-issued Meat Inspection Certificate usually hanging in respective meat stalls. They can also ask for the same certificate in the meat section of the malls.
Pinili further assured that the City Vet continues to closely monitor nASF spread and the surveillance and monitoring operations in the two barangays with the ASF cases and its adjacent areas.
Hog producers have been advised to practice bio-security; not to allow any pigs to enter the farm; to always disinfect their area, and not to feed pigs with slops or pigswill that could contain meat infected by the bacteria.
She also asked the community‘s participation by informing the City Vet of the unusual behavior of the pigs.
“Kung naa mo’y mamatikdan, sa inyong mga silingan, kung nagluya inyong baboy, tawag sa akong office para mapaadtuan tamo and then makakuha tag blood sample. With that, ma-examine dayon so makahimo ta’g action kaysa itago-tago ninyo. Kinahanglan jud ani ug participation dili lang kay kami, mga farmers, mga consumers, tabang-tabang tang tanan emplace (If you notice in your neighborhood that hogs are becoming weak, call our office so we can get blood samples from the pigs. We can immediately take action, unlike if you hide situations like this. This needs participation from the farmers, consumers, let’s help each other),” she said. CIO
