Pangasinan still ASF-free

According to the vet, the province has enough supply of pork and assured everybody that consumption of pork is safe.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Jovito Tabajeros on Friday assured that the province of Pangasinan is still free from the African Swine Fever (ASF) despite the current situation of other provinces in the country.

“We assure the public that there is no ASF in the province at present, thus, it is safe to eat pork,” he said.

Tabajeros pooled all swine stakeholders and livestock handlers during a meeting on Thursday regarding the temporary ban on the entry of hogs in the province, ensuring that their livelihood would not be affected by the dreaded disease as long as they cooperate.

“They were delighted to know that the province is taking actions to prevent ASF and protect their industry. We have also learned from them that there were still no reported problems with their swine” he said.

According to the vet, the province has enough supply of pork and assured everybody that consumption of pork is safe.

“ASF, actually, has no effect on people, but our concern for the temporary total ban is on the swine as it is communicable and they might get infected and acquire the disease,” he said.

He added that due to the devastating news of the ASF infecting swine in other areas of the country, many consumers have shunned away pork, which caused plummeting sales of meat.

Aside from the quarantine checkpoints set up all over the province on the order of Governor Amado Espino III, slaughterhouses are now required to present a veterinary health certificate from swine owners before they process the animal, Tabajeros said.

“The certification from a veterinarian that the hog is healthy is required. After the slaughterhouse, there are also meat inspectors and then the market administrators to ensure no ASF-affected swine will be brought or sold in our markets,” he added.

He added that even the delivery truck of feeds companies are now required to disinfect their trucks before they could enter the province.