ASF checkpoints set up in Metro

MANILA, Philippines — Checkpoints have been set up in Metro Manila as part of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

The checkpoints were set up along Commonwealth, Mindanao and Balintawak Avenues in Quezon City and in Marulas and Malanday in Valenzuela, DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said during a briefing.

“These inspection sites will check the shipping permits and veterinary certificates as per Administrative Order No. 5. If shippers fail to present a shipping permit, the shipment will be returned to point of origin,” he said.

De Mesa added that the pigs would be condemned immediately once the animals show signs of ASF.

According to De Mesa, Philippine National Police personnel will assist veterinary officials from the Bureau of Animal Industry and local government units in the inspection.

He said that the checkpoints aim to protect the ongoing repopulation program in Central Luzon.

“The checkpoints are located in the north and south. We have an ongoing big repopulation program in Central Luzon, most especially in Bulacan and Pampanga areas, so we don’t want to compromise our repopulation program amid the new infected zones in Southern Luzon,” De Mesa said, referring to the fresh outbreaks of ASF in Batangas.

The Batangas provincial government has declared a state of calamity in the province amid the spread of ASF.

De Mesa said that the checkpoints would be operational until the end of the year.

He said that checkpoints were also set up in Barangay Turbina in Calamba, Laguna; along the STAR tollway in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and in Barangay Amuyong, Alfonso, Cavite. – Janvic Mateo