Samples of pork siomai confiscated at the Iloilo Terminal Market or “Super” in Iloilo City tested negative for the African swine fever (ASF) virus.
Dr. Tomas Forteza, head of the Office of the City Veterinarian, said yesterday, Nov. 13, four packs of pork siomai were sent Manila for laboratory testing.
“Even nga nagnegative ni sya, the more that we will be vigilant sa pagbantay sa aton mga [gateway]. Sa Negros they have already confiscated mga Mekini products nga more than 150 kilos,” he told reporters.
Last Oct. 30, personnel of the city government’s Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) confiscated 11 packs of pork siomai.
The products came from Antipolo City, one of the areas in the country affected by ASF.
Forteza assured that they will continue to intensify their surveillance and monitoring against the entry of pork products from ASF-affected areas.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas was happy that the confiscated products were free from the highly contagious viral disease.
“This is a good news,” he said.
But the mayor stressed that there is no room for complacency.
“In Spain, it took them 10 years to eradicate the problem, so kinanglan gid kita magsige bantay,”
“We protect our residence here at the same time we also protect the swine industry.”
Treñas issued an executive order banning the entry of live pigs, hog carcasses, pork meat, and pork by-products coming from areas affected by ASF.IMT
