Authorities confiscated a total of 1,054 kilograms of pork meat products coming from countries with African swine fever (ASF) infestation last year.
Based on the data released by the Veterinary Quarantine Services, confiscated cooked, semi-processed, and processed meat came from China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Dr. Maria Teresa Baclayo, regional veterinary quarantine officer, said they continue to monitor shipments from airports and seaports to protect the local livestock.
Barangays Lamanan and Dominga of Calinan District tested positive for ASF, prompting officials to impose lockdown in the two barangays and adjacent barangays falling within the one-kilometer radius. Communities within the seven-kilometer radius are included in the intensified monitoring and surveillance.
Meanwhile, the veterinary office is still investigating how the swine flu virus infected local hogs. Baclayo said the report only reached their office earlier this year, but the hogs in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental started to die in August of last year.
The Department of Agriculture said there are more or less 1,000 pigs in Don Marcelino have died due to the swine disease.
Meanwhile, Baclayo encouraged the public to report to their respective municipal agriculture offices any observed changes on their backyard hogs to prevent the further spread of ASF. (Yvette Balayon, UM Intern)
