A TOTAL of twenty five thousand kilos of processed meat were intercepted on two  separate days at the quarantine checkpoint in Carmen, Rosales and were made to turn back to their points of origin.

Ten thousand kilos were intercepted last November 6  while fifteen thousand kilos of frozen and processed meat were intercepted last November 1.

The various frozen meats from Bulacan were intercepted by the combined forces of the Department of Agriculture, Provincial Veterinary Office, PNP and the Samahang Industriyang Agrikultura (SINAG) at the quarantine checkpoint.

According to SINAG’ chairman Engineer Rosendo So, both shipments of  processed meat had shipping permits from the National Meat Inspection Commission but since the owner could not present the certification that the province requires that the processed meats passed African Swine Fever (ASF) test, both were not allowed to proceed.

Siomai, hotdog, ham and bacon were the contents of the truck.

According to So, next Monday, local governments will also investigate and start to confiscate processed and frozen meat sold at the market without a certification that it has passed the ASF test through the power of the executive order of local government units that strictly prohibit pork and by-products such as processed and frozen meats without certification of ASF test.

Among the towns that have issued this executive order requiring a total ban on pork entry, fresh pork meat, and by-products such as frozen and processed meat are Bayambang, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Rosales, Villasis, Binalonan, Urdaneta City, Pozorrubio, Sison, Asingan, San Quintin, Umingan, Alaminos City and Mangatarem.

So said SINAG sought the help of local governments especially those on the boundaries to safeguard the hog industry in the province and prevent ASF outbreaks and losses among backyard piggery.

SINAG had commended the proactive action of the provincial government for its early issuance of executive order that temporarily prohibits the entry of swine and by-products from ASF-contaminated areas through the cooperation of OPVet, the Department of Agriculture and the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office has assigned PNP members to quarantine checkpoints throughout the province. (Nora Dominguez)

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