ASF in Philippines a failure of governance — Pangilinan

MANILA, Philippines — The continuing damage that African swine fever (ASF) is causing the local industry is the government’s own doing amid its failure in the agriculture sector according to a Senator.

Marking World Animal Day, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said government mechanisms failed to enforce food safety protocols in contaminated frozen pork products smuggled in without benefit of inspection, which is believed to have brought the virus to local farms.

“Government should be able to impart safe, proper and effective pig-raising techniques to local farmers. It should be able to inspect pigpens for regular cleaning and disinfecting,” he added.

The ASF virus is now present in 17 areas nationwide and the government has so far culled more than 20,000 pigs, which is only about 0.15 percent of total inventory. The Philippines has 12.8 million hogs.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking at swill feeding as among the primary causes of the entry and eventual spread of ASF in the country.

Pangilinan called for proper care and treatment of animals, not just pets, as he urged local governments to consult with veterinarians and specialists on the most humane way of culling infected pigs, and for proper handling of dead hogs, so as not to spread the disease.

Pork consumption safe

Municipalities in Pangasinan and Bulacan have organized lechon or roasted pig feasts for their residents in a bid to assure them that pork products in their local markets are free from ASF and are safe to eat, despite incidences of the swine disease in their areas.

Mangaldan town in Pangasinan held a lechon boodle fight in front of its public market led by the local government.

This was after the confiscation of some pigs transported from Mapandan town by an illicit trader, where 15 hogs tested positive for ASF.

Meanwhile, the municipalities of Pandi and Pulilan in Bulacan also held a lechon fest on Thursday.

Pulilan Mayor Ma. Rosario Ochoa-Montejo and Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque personally led the eating of roast pork and other pork products even after confirming ASF incidences in their localities.

Montejo said the disease has been found in livestock pens in several villages in Pulilan town and that more than 1,000 affected swine were killed and buried in deep pits.

Montejo explained the feast was conducted to “show to the people that only those negative for ASF shall be slaughtered for food.”

On the other hand, Roque served roast pig for the public even as he confirmed that a farm in town had tested positive for ASF.

Roque assured consumers that the ASF incidence in their town is an isolated case and that the quarantine protocol of the DA is strictly being implemented. Louise Maureen Simeon, Eva Visperas, Ramon Efren Lazaro