People’s movement blamed for ASF spike

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has blamed the spread of African swine fever (ASF) on the increasing mobility of people, particularly those who transport pork products.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez yesterday admitted to The STAR that authorities could only confiscate pork products from travelers as there is no law penalizing the act.

“At present, there is no law penalizing the transport of meat products. Aside from confiscation, the public should cooperate to prevent ASF from further spreading,” Estoperez said.

On Friday, Estoperez defended a move of the Provincial Veterinary Office of Bohol requiring the disinfection of confiscated pork products including lechon or roast pork, saying it is part of the protocols of the DA in preventing the spread of the disease.

“We discouraged travelers from bringing pork products. Like for example, we tried to bring chicharon from Batangas to Mindoro. Right at the port, the inspector confiscated it,” Estoperez said.

Port authorities in Bohol seized portions of lechon Cebu, processed pork meat, pancit or noodles and pasta containing pork, pork hopia and pork siomai as part of the provincial government’s campaign to stop the spread of ASF.

“We are closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in the surveillance and monitoring as we cannot control the movement of the people, especially this summer,” Estoperez said.

He said conducting information dissemination is important to make people aware that meat and its by-products should not be carried during travel.

“Look at the case of Cebu, the LGU is very strict when it comes to the entry of pork products, yet an outbreak of ASF was still recorded in Carcar City,” Estoperez said.

He said unscrupulous traders always find ways to continue their illegal activities.

“There was a case wherein pork products were transported within the Visayas through a motor banca. Luckily, the boat was intercepted by authorities,” he said.

Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, an attached agency of the DA, showed that 15 of the country’s 17 regions were affected by ASF as of March 5.