Boodle fight set to show pork safe for public consumption

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary William Dar will lead a “boodle fight” of pork dishes to assure the public that it is safe to eat pork following reports on the possible entry of African swine fever (ASF) in the Philippines.

Dar said the boodle fight, a communal way of eating using one’s hands, would be held on Friday morning at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management office in Quezon City.

“We have scheduled a boodle fight. We will eat pork-based dishes on Friday. We are inviting you. There will be barbecue, igadu, whatever. We will cook so all of you will be satisfied,” Dar said at a press briefing yesterday in Malacañang.

“There’s nothing unsafe about pork meat so you are invited, 11 o’clock, Friday at the grounds of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management,” he added.

Dar said his agency would also release on Friday the results of its investigation on the unidentified disease that affected pigs in some backyard farms.

The agriculture secretary stressed that even if the result is positive, there is no need to worry since quarantine and food safety measures are in place all over the country.

“If it’s negative, the better,” Dar said. “The public need not worry.”

The agriculture chief was expected to update the Cabinet on the swine fever issue last night. Five areas have been placed under quarantine due to pig disease but Dar declined to identify them.

“If the suspicions are correct, this will kill the whole industry. That’s why we have to be careful,” Dar said.

He claimed there are no new recorded incidents of swine illness within the one-kilometer radius of the quarantined areas.

The health department has advised the public to cook pork properly to prevent infection.

Meanwhile, 94 live pigs were confiscated at the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway exit in Barangay Bobonan in Pozzorrubio, Pangasinan yesterday. The seizure was in compliance with an executive order banning the entry of pigs from other areas into Pangasinan.

The livestock, which came from Tarlac and Pampanga, were discovered aboard three separate vehicles and destined for delivery to La Union and Baguio City. – Eva Visperas