Nanawagan ang Department of Agriculture (DA) sa ilang local government officials sa Visayas na ikonsidera ang pagbawi sa ban na ipinataw sa mga alagang baboy at pork meat products.
Ayon kay Agriculture Sec. William Dar, hindi dapat apektado ng African Swine fever ang sirkulasyon ng mga produkto dahil malinaw umano na hindi ito mapanganib sa tao.
Kontrolado rin daw ng ahensya ang sitwasyon lalo na’t mahigpit ang kanilang koordinasyon sa militar at pulisya.
“In these trying times, particularly in protecting our shores from the challenges of major diseases such as the ASF (African Swine fever) we appeal for unity and brotherhood among our countrymen, most particularly our local chief executives.”
“DA has repeatedly assured the public that the situation is under proper management, even as it continuously works with concerned local government units, private swine industry leaders the PNP and military to effectively manage, control and contain the threat of ASF.”
Kung maalala, nag-deklara ang Cebu at Bohol provincial government ng ban sa lahat ng uri ng pork products mula Rizal at Bulacan.
Mula kasi sa mga ito nanggaling ang unang kaso ng ASF sa bansa.
Paliwanag ni Sec. Dar, posibleng gumaya ang ilan pang lalawigan sa naturang hakbang at mag-resulta ng problema sa kalakalan ng mga lokal na produkto.
Hindi umano basta-basta ipinapataw ang ban at dapat na pinag-aaralang mabuti dahil tiyak na may aasahang epekto ito sa merkado.
“Efforts to protect borders against the dreaded disease should not limit the movement of goods and food supplies, suggesting that any ban should be carefully studied.”
“Hard position could create repercussions, where other provinces may retaliate by cutting off the food stocks to and from Cebu and Bohol.”
“We would not like that to happen — isolating and depriving each other from the basic right to food. The two provinces are huge markets for pork, processed meat products and food items due to their burgeoning tourism industries.”
Batay sa datos ng DA, nasa P260-bilyon ang halaga ng swine industry sa buong Pilipinas.
