TACLOBAN CITY – An executive order was issued by the provincial government of Eastern Samar as a way to prevent entry of African swine fever in the province.
Under Executive Order 09-113 issued by Governor Ben Evardone on September 3, a task force was created whose members are from various government agencies.
African swine fever is a fatal animal disease affecting mostly pigs and wild boars with up to 100% case fatality rate.
Signs of illness among pigs include high fever, decreased appetite, and weakness. The skin may be reddened, blotchy, or have blackened lesions, especially on the ears, tail, and lower legs.
The task force is composed of the Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Veterinary Office, Provincial Health Office, Philippine National Police, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Under the executive order, the provincial government will ban the entry of live pigs to the province without a complete and original documents, including veterinary shipping permit, veterinary health certificate, and other documents needed to transport a livestock.
“Shipment lacking the required documents shall be directed to return to their point of origin,” the order said.
The executive order also orders vendors of pork and pork-related products to secure a certificate of meat inspection from the National Meat Inspection Service.
Quarantine checkpoints in key points areas like the towns of Lawaan, Guiuan, Taft, Oras and Arteche are to be establish to monitor the entry of the livestock to the province which will be manned by the Municipal Agriculture personnel, PNP, and barangay tanods of each municipality.
Earlier, the city government of Borongan through Mayor Jose Ivan Agda also issued similar order preventing the entry of any swine products in the city within 30 days.
The order was issued in compliance to the Administrative Order of Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
A checkpoint manned by the City Veterinary Office and the PNP was established to prevent the entry of swine meat and live swine to the city.
Most of Borongan’s swine meat needs or 80 percent are imported from Davao and Mindanao are while only 20 percent are from local hog producers. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
