Lift pork ban, LGUs told

TO prevent the disruption of trade and commerce, the Department of the Interior and Local Government ( DILG) on Wednesday ordered local government units to lift the ban on the movement, sale and distribution of pork and processed meat from Luzon, where thousands of hogs with African swine fever (ASF) were culled.

“Since the government has been acting aggressively and effectively to address the ASF outbreak, we are urging all LGUs (local government units) to lift the ban on processed meat products containing pork for as long as the products meet certain conditions,” Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

At least 55 provinces in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon have banned the entry, sale and distribution of pork and processed meat from ASF-hit provinces.

The DILG chief said LGUs should allow pork and processed pork products meat that were cleared by the National Meat Inspection Service.

“The experts from the Department of Agriculture have already advised us that if the conditions are met, processed meat is safe. Moreover, the current restrictions will ultimately force consumers to pay higher prices because of the adverse impact of the LGU-imposed ban on the meat industry,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) thanked Año for his directive.

“The processed meat industry has always followed rules; rules that are difficult. But because they are implemented by the regulators, we follow them. So we buy and import our materials only from sources approved by regulators,” Pampi spokesman Rex Agarrado said.

But the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said some provinces might defy Año’s order.

“Cebu will deny the request of Secretary Año,” said Sinag Executive Director Jayson Cainglet. He added that the provincial government of Bohol also shares the same sentiments.

“I am willing to open up Bohol tomorrow to all hog related products from Luzon as long as I have a guarantee letter that the government will compensate Bohol for the culling and disposal of affected dead hogs from ASF and my backyard raisers are compensated properly and immediately upon proof of damages, if and when, ASF gets to Bohol,” Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap said in a statement.

"if that can be reflected in the budget and the DA will give me a signed guarantee with a mechanism releasing the payment for compensation then we are ready to open up Bohol,” Yap added.