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Manila tightens watch on markets, ports amid ASF scare
Veterinary Inspection Board chief, Dr. Nick Santos said the city is “way ahead in its campaign against the spread of ASF, particularly in its operations against the sale of hot meat and ‘botcha'”.
MANILA — The Manila City government has intensified its monitoring operations on all markets and ports amid reports that several provinces have been affected by the African swine fever (ASF).
Veterinary Inspection Board chief, Dr. Nick Santos said the city is “way ahead in its campaign against the spread of ASF, particularly in its operations against the sale of hot meat and ‘botcha'”.
“The Veterinary Inspection Board strengthened its monitoring task force, to check all possible point of entries and distribution channels, including markets and ports, as well as all cold storage facilities in the City of Manila, especially Tondo and Binondo area,” Santos said in a statement.
However, Santos noted that the nation’s capital has “the lowest percentage of hog mortality rate” because the city doesn’t have farms and hog-raisers.
“In this case, prevention (of entry of contaminated meat) is our top priority,” he added.
The Manila VIB has already been monitoring public markets across the city and has successfully confiscated contraband meat since the first day of Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s administration.
“The Special Enforcement Squad of the Veterinary Inspection Board, mandated by the Office of the Mayor, will conduct thorough inspections and perform their duties 24/7 to ensure that meat being sold in our markets are clean, fresh, and safe for consumption, especially free from ASF,” Santos said.
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture has announced an outbreak of ASF in several areas in Bulacan and Rizal.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar, however, assured the public that the outbreak has been contained by authorities.
