Western Visayas remained unaffected by the African swine fever (ASF), according to Department of Agriculture (DA-6) Director Remelyn Recoter.
Recoter said it is not true that the packs of pork siomai from Antipolo City, Rizal, which were confiscated at Iloilo Terminal Market on Oct. 30, tested positive for ASF.
She then appealed to the media to be careful in writing stories related to ASF.
Recoter said samples of the confiscated siomai were sent to Manila on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for laboratory testing.
Meanwhile, the regional director called on all local government units (LGUs) in the region to be vigilant against smuggled pork and pork products transported through seaports and even airports.
Recoter also told the travellers not to bring in pork and pork products since there is ban issued by various LGUs.
“Kon kis-a, may batasan ang Filipino nga kon makalusot, malusot gid. Amo gani sa tanan, kabalo naman kita sang epekto sang ASF, mapalusot pa gid sang mga ginabawal na gani nga dal-on,” she lamented.
Residents are also urged not to ask for “pasalubong” products made of pork.
“Ginahinyo gid naton nga indi sila magdala pork and pork products diri sa Western Visayas kay as of the moment and hopefully in the years to come, ASF-free ang Western Visayas… mag contribute kita to protect our hog industry,” Recoter appealed.
She noted that the hog industry is a billion peso industry. In Western Visayas, 80 percent are backyard raisers. In general, the hog industry in the region, based on the inventory of hog heads, runs up to more than P6 billion.IMT
