City Vet reinforces preventive measures for ASF
The City Veterinary Office (CVO) reinforced preventive measures for African Swine Fever (ASF) following the entry of the said virus in General Santos City.
Among the new combative actions is obtaining a veterinary health certificate and a certificate from the barangay of origin of the swine to avoid the infiltration of contaminated pork. In the event of an outbreak, the burial site within the area will also be prepared and no pork meat movement will be undertaken to prevent further damage.
City Veterinarian Dr. Charlemagne Calo said that despite the fact that the metropolis continues to have no ASF cases, an emergency plan still needs to be put in place. Also Calo stood on the needs to be vigilant and tighten his vicinity, as three (3) to four (4) months for the Koronadaleño are very crucial, considering that the city of General Santos is only 54 kilometers from the City of Koronadal aside from the fact that SOCCSKSARGEN is considered as the only place remains as swine supplier.
Meanwhile, Calo also encourages all hog raisers to avail free insurance from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) for their peccary as part of the readiness in case of an outbreak of the said virus. “It is important that swine have been insured so that we can get some help from the national government in case an adverse situation strikes”, Dr. Calo said during the recent press conference, the Talakayan sa City Hall while calling for all hog raisers to be vigilant.
Prior the above mentioned, strict checkpoints had also been implemented since the start of aggression of ASF in the city to ensure that the same case two (2) years ago would no longer be repeated. Among those being monitored at the checkpoints are the pork processed products such as the belly, chorizo, longanisa, tocino and even lechon. Calo announced that the pork lechon cannot be transported without proper documents such as veterinary and shipping certificates.
Veterinary IV Dr. Paul Aloot on the other hand, reminded the community that aside from frozen meats, boar semen from red zones is also prohibited from entering the city based on the ordinance in the Province of South Cotabato and the city’s Executive Order (EO).
He also commented that although seizing such products is a major challenge, his team has already arrested several illegal sellers but asked them not to go public with the issue, promising not to repeat their misdeeds.
Further, since it was only a first offense and was sincere in their words, Aloot said that the government has granted their request, and was also given the opportunity to change.
Meanwhile, Dr. Edgar de Jesus, meat control officer assured the public that all processed foods confiscated were burned and buried while regular inspections in meat establishments were being administered by the group every month.
Calo, on the other hand, called on the consumers to make a habit of checking the label of the frozen products upon purchase and avoid patronizing illegal products. “If no one is buying their products, illegal sellers and resellers will force to stop doing such activity”, the City Veterinarian said as he constantly reminded the vendees.
As a guarantee of full support for the CVO’s initiatives, City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena, called on the public to take ASF seriously, as it is like a plague that has a major impact on the economy.