By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)
LAOAG CITY—The province of Ilocos Norte has intensified its
efforts to protect the province from African swine fever (ASF) by requiring
hogs and chicken suppliers to register with the Provincial Veterinary Office
(PVO) here.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Domingo Ambrocio, chair of the
committee on agriculture, said the move is meant to keep the province protected
from the highly infectious and contagious disease that has been affecting the
hog industry since it entered the country in August 2019.
As one of the three remaining provinces in mainland Luzon that is
free from the viral disease, Ambrocio said there is a need to implement more
stringent measures and help stabilize exorbitant pork prices.
"Viajeros [traders]
and their partner buyers shall be both responsible for anything related to each
and every hog shipment. Both partner and viajero,
when found in violation of any or part of the ordinance, or any guidelines and
protocols both nationally and locally-issued orders, shall be barred and banned
from doing any future business in the province in so far as hog trading is
concerned,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PVO who is tasked to register and accredit traders
will conduct seminars on biosecurity and animal welfare and provide the necessary
documents needed for the transport of hogs.
The accredited traders shall be issued IDs that are coded and
with identifying marks to avoid scrupulous and fictitious accreditation.
Before entering the province, traders’ truck should first undergo
washing from a legitimate operator located before the provincial border.
To date, provincial veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela assured
there is enough pork supply in the province and their major concern for now is
the transport of hogs to augment the high demand from other provinces.
On Feb. 1, 2021, President Rodrigo R. Duterte imposed a price
ceiling for 60 days on pork and chicken products in the National Capital
Region.
The ASF outbreak in various parts of the country has
significantly affected the supply and prices of pork and chicken in the market.
In Ilocos Norte, farm-gate price of hogs remained at PHP130 per
kilo.
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