The provincial government earlier today declared a temporary total ban on the importation of “live hogs, pork and all pork products” into Catanduanes amidst the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Camarines Sur.
Besides a total ban, Executive Order No. 12 enacts the creation of local ASF task forces for monitoring and prevention, checkpoints at the airport, seaports, and coastal barangays, and immediate confiscation or culling of any pork products or live hogs caught entering the province.
“Since the threat of ASF is just across our borders, there is an urgent need to institute safety measures in order to protect the interest and general welfare of the populace, especially the livestock industry in this province,” the order stated.
Provincial Veterinarian Jane Rubio said that the ban was a result of yesterday’s meeting on the outbreak of ASF in Camarines Sur and could only be lifted depending on the supply of pork in the province.
“Depende. I-lilift lang kung magka-problema ngaya ang province ning supply na ano, hindi na kaya ng local producers na mag-supply ng baboy dito, ng karneng baboy,so maybe that’s the time na pwedeng i-lift,” Rubio said.
She added that should an outbreak occur on the island, the Department of Agriculture (DA) would implement the 1-7-10 method.
“‘[Y]ung 1-7-10 protocol, ibig sabihin from infected site, ma-plot ning 1 kilometer-radius, lahat ng pig population within 1-kilometer radius, healthy man or may sakit, ide-depopulate. Babaunin. Tapos ‘yung 7-kilometer, after nung 1, no movement. Para ma-contain, walang papasok dyan sa lugar nila. ‘Yung 10, strict monitoring,” she said.
She added that the DA might halve the distance due to worried piggery owners and culling healthy pigs within the one-kilometer radius.
Other meat alternatives
Piggery owner Carla Zafe lauded the total ban, noting her and other owners’ earlier attempts to convince the government of implementing a total ban during the first days of the ASF outbreak in Rizal.
“Ay salamat sa Dios man. Mas okay, ta isi mo, uya dai kitang hilang. Pero ‘pag igwa ning naglaog, dai ta isi kung igua itong hilang o dai, kaya mas magayon, talagang total. Maski sa ito baga, su letter ko, talaga, total ban, pero pwede tang i-lift after kang gabos na an,” she said.
She noted that the ban should last even while the supply of pork dwindles on the island because if the local supply gets infected, the entire province might be depopulated of pigs.
“Importante kaan dai sinda magpalaog. Kadakol pa man ning source ning karne. Manok, karbaw, igwa pa man ning alternative. Buda ngunyan, gapoon na ning ano ang orig eh, ga-ologbon na ngunyan,” she explained.