Lechon, meat sellers reminded to get supply from ASF-free farms

The Davao City Veterinarian’s Office has called on all lechon house owners and meat sellers to get hogs or meat supply from legitimate swine growers and African Swine Fever (ASF)- free areas in the city to ensure products are safe.

This developed after the ASF team at the Sirawan checkpoint intercepted eight (8) heads of undocumented swine carcasses on July 9, 2020. The pork meat products were smuggled into Davao City from Padada, Davao del Sur without a permit.

City Veterinarian Dr. Cerelyn Pinili said that the products weighing 35-40 kilograms each were found covered with coconut husk and charcoal inside a vehicle reportedly owned by a lechon house businessman who later admitted to the violation.

“Maayo nalang atong mga tao sa checkpoint vigilant sila, mao nasakpan gyud nila (Fortunately, our people at the checkpoint are vigilant, that’s why they caught them),” she said.

Pinili added that it was a violation of the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 10536, and the Executive Order No. 39 series of 2019 of Davao City temporarily banning all live pigs, pork and pork-related products and by-products from ASF-affected areas to enter the city.

Pinili said her office is taking legal action against the violator and warned all lechon house owners, and meat businesses to take the measures against ASF seriously.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 11 on June 11, 2020, confirmed that some villages in Bansalan, Davao del Sur are still affected by ASF. Last week, DA-12 also confirmed ASF cases in three barangays in Magpet, North Cotabato.

CVO has actively monitoring and conducting blood sampling in the barangays adjacent to the affected areas, specifically Barangay Magsaysay in Marilog District.

Pinili also called on all hog farmers to report to their office immediately if ever they notice mortalities or signs of the disease in their pigs.

“Kung naa man silay namatikdan sa ilang barangay na mortalities or nangasakit, i-report dayon nila sa barangay or sa office para ma-adtuan. Dili na sya padugayon, para dili na magkalat (If they notice mortalities or sick pigs in their barangay, they should report it immediately to their barangay or to the CVO. They shouldn’t delay it to stop the spread),” Pinili said. CIO