Panay News

NegOcc regulates livestock transport to prevent ASF

NATION

-  By Adria n Stewa rt Co he

– The Negros Occidental provincial

BACOLOD City  government i s strictly regulating the movement of livestock transport vehicles in and out of the province to protect its P6- billion swine industry African swine fever (ASF).

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinari­an, said the province saw the need to further strengthen the transport regulation measure, based on a study of the Philippine College of Swine Practition­ers.

“Pig hauler trucks from infected areas are ‘high risk’ because these deliver pigs to different abattoirs,” he said.

In the recently signed Executive Order (EO) 21-11, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson “establishe­d regulation­s on the entry to and exit from Negros Occidental of livestock transport vehicles.”

Lacson, who chairs the Provincial ASF Task Force, said the continuing ASF outbreaks in Luzon, Mindanao, and Eastern Visayas remain a threat to the swine industry of the province.

The depletion of the hog population in ASF- affected areas resulted in a source-out of hog supply from areas still free from the swine disease like

Negros Occidental, he noted.

“Various orders were already issued to address this concern but neverthele­ss there’s still a pressing need to strengthen existing rules and regulation,” Lacson added.

As provided in the EO, the entry to Negros Occidental of transport vehicles from Luzon, Mindanao, and Eastern Visayas remains prohibited.

Only transport vehicles accredited with the provincial government through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) will be allowed entry.

The provincial government further reserves the right to refuse entry of transport vehicles from ASF- stricken areas to be declared by the Department of Agricultur­e, the directive further said.

Only livestock vehicles from “green zones” or areas free from ASF like Western Visayas and Central Visayas are allowed access to the province.

Trucks f rom Negros Occidental delivering stocks to “red zones” like Metro Manila will just drop the pigs upon reaching their destinatio­n and travel back, which means they will not reach the farms and other production areas infected by the ASF, Decena said.

Starting Feb. 17, there has been no entry and exit in the province of livestock transport vehicles from Luzon, Mindanao, Leyte in the Visayas, and other “red zones” in the country.

For outbound transport of live hogs and livestock, those originatin­g from Negros Occidental will be allowed provided outbound transport vehicles used have secured a provincial livestock transport clearance from the PVO.

The outbound transport vehicle should also be accredited with the DA as a livestock transport carrier and should obtain a livestock handler’s permit before shipment.

A livestock transport route plan should also be prepared by the transport vehicle owner or shipper and must be submitted to the PVO at least three days before the scheduled date of travel.

Meanwhile, i nbound transport vehicles should be duly registered or accredited with the provincial government.

Aside from observing the seven- day downtime in a designated area identified by the local ASF task force, t he i nbound t ransport vehicle should inform the l ocal government unit where its yard or garage is located.

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigat­ion (NBI) will be the sole agency to investigat­e the “misencount­er” between the operatives of Philippine National Police ( PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcemen­t Agency (PDEA).

Presidenti­al spokespers­on Harry Roque said on Friday afternoon that President Rodrigo Duterte personally authorized the NBI to probe the shootout near a mall along Commonweal­th Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday evening which leaves four casualties. “

NBI Nagdesisyo­n po ang ating Presidente na tanging lang po ang mag-iimbestiga doon sa

PDEA putukan na nangyari sa panig

Quezon City,” said ng mga kapulisan at ng Roque. dyan po sa

According to Roque, Duterte came out with the order to ensure the impartiali­ty of the investigat­ion as the planned joint panel of PNP and PDEA will not push through with its probe.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas and PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva assured that PNP and PDEA will continue with their fights against illegal drugs in the country and intensify coordinati­on so the incident will not happen again.

Villanueva, for his part, said that the unfortunat­e incident will not dampen ties between the two agencies. “

This Mas l umakas kami. incident will not result Mas naging dikit kami.

sa

paghihiwal­ay ng pulis at

coordinati­on Lalo po naming pag-iibayuhin ang ng isa’t isa. Dahil kung di namin gagawin yan, isa lang ang mananalo

papayagan,” dito – ilegal na droga. At yan added./ ay hindi namin

PN

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 ??  ?? Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas (2nd from right) and Philippine Drug Enforcemen­t Agency director general Wilkins Villanueva (3rd from left) do a fist bump during a
PDEA. joint press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas (2nd from right) and Philippine Drug Enforcemen­t Agency director general Wilkins Villanueva (3rd from left) do a fist bump during a PDEA. joint press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday.

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