Eastern Samar forms task force vs ASF

The order bans the entry of live animals without the complete and original documents

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar — Gov. Ben Evardone signed an executive order last Tuesday creating a provincial Inter-Agency Contingency African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force to prevent the possible entry of the disease in the province.

The order bans the entry of live animals without the complete and original documents including veterinary shipping permit, veterinary health certificate, and documents needed in the transport of livestock.

Shipment lacking the required documents shall be directed to return to their point of origin.

The governor also ordered vendors of pork and pork-related products to secure a certificate of meat inspection from the National Meat Inspection Service.

Quarantine checkpoints will be put up in key point of entries to the province, in the towns of Lawaan, Guiuan, Taft, Oras and Arteche to ensure that the entry of live swine and pork products are monitored.

These checkpoints will be manned by the Office of the Municipal Agricultural Service personnel, Philippine National Police, and barangay tanods of their respective local government units.

The Provincial InterAgency Contingency ASF

Task Force is composed of the Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Veterinary Office, Provincial Health Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government (Philippine National Police), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Office.