Malacañang directs gov’t agencies to control ASF spread

FILE: Secretary Salvador Panelo’s Press Briefing (Photo screengrabbed from PCOO)

MANILA — Malacañang directed all government agencies, bureaus, agencies and the like to control the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

This directive came following reports that samples taken from hotdog, longganisa, and tocino imported by a Manila-based company tested positive for ASF virus.

“The Office of the President, through the initiative of the Executive Secretary, is hereby directing all executive departments, bureaus, agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and other instrumentalities of the government to coordinate, as well as to adopt policies and institute measures to manage, contain and control the transmission of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Thursday night.

Panelo said all concerned and responsible government offices are also directed to provide assistance, alternative livelihood and skills training to those affected by ASF.

Panelo also urged the public to cooperate with government authorities to prevent the spread of ASF.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), in a clinical laboratory report, said the imported meat products which tested positive for ASF were taken from a supply coming from a company based in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

This came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum order directing local government units that allow the entry of uncooked processed meat from Luzon after securing a shipping permit from BAI or a license to operate and certificate of product registration issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Department of Health (DOH).

ASF, a fatal animal disease among hogs is now in seven areas in Luzon–Bulacan, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon City, and Rizal.

Reports showed that over 60,000 hogs have died from the animal disease.

Hogs become infected by direct contact with infected pigs or by ingestion of garbage containing unprocessed infected pig meat or pig meat products.

The World Organization for Animal Health said ASF virus dies when subjected to 70 degrees heat for 30 minutes but processing procedures do not inactivate it.