BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The sale of banned luncheon meat in Silay City was thwarted by the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office Friday last week, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, said yesterday.
Following reports from several concerned citizens regarding the online selling of canned pork products from China, the Provincial ASF Task Force conducted an immediate inspection, Decena said.
Based on received reports and monitoring of the ASF Task Force, the sellers were offering pre-order sale of a popular brand of Luncheon Meat from China that is currently banned in the country due to ASF concerns, he said.
Decena added that during inspection, the products were not yet available in their possession as they said it is scheduled to arrive the following week and is supposed to be their first order of the said products.
However, one of them presented a photograph of a receipt from a courier company that was sent to her by the supplier as proof that her order was on the way after she had paid for them in full.
Upon verification of the receipt, the inspecting team was able to identify and locate the supplier in the Province of Antique and immediately coordinated with the Regulatory Division of the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 6 for appropriate action against the establishment.
Decena stressed that carrying, transport, shipment, distribution, storing, trading, marketing, and sale of pork products from ASF – affected countries and those manufactured or processed in Luzon, Mindanao and Eastern Visayas is prohibited under Provincial Ordinance No. 2019-024, or otherwise known as “The ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental is prohibited .
Meanwhile, Decena reported the delivery of performance tested boar from Jamarli as breeder stocks to District IV and District VI, respectively last week.
Recipient local government units were San Enrique, Candoni, Sipalay and Cauayan Hog Raisers Association.
The delivered boar as breeder stock is under the breeder loan program of the province and aims to increase the number and improve the quality of swine in the province, in line with the Animal Livelihood and Food Security program of the provincial government under its Abanse Negrense Agenda.
A large volume of pig production in the province is found increasing in District IV and VI, with a record of total swine population of 72,803 and 76,867, respectively.
This means that the bulk of production is coming from these districts were District IV has an existing six (6) commercial hog farms, two (2) of which are multiplier farms while District VI has breeding facilities such as animal production and artificial insemination centers in support to swine production increase.
On the marketing side, an average of 100 to 150 heads of swine per oksyon market transaction is registered and sold in Kabankalan Livestock Auction Market where majority of sold pigs is intended for Manila market.
The availment of the boar loan program and proper management and breeding practice is expected to significantly increase production of genetically improved swine in the province.*
