A wing van carrying 56 hogs without proper documentation is now under temporary custody of the Philippine Marines in Burgos, Ilocos Norte pending the results of the African swine fever (ASF) tests.
The result may be released Thursday, provincial veterinarian Loida Valenzuela said in a media interview Monday.
The wing van was intercepted at the Pagudpud animal quarantine checkpoint Saturday evening, she said.
“There are 56 (hogs) that are currently at the headquarters of the Philippine Marines because they were refused at their origin in the towns of Sarrat, Pasuquin and Dingras. Four were allegedly dead due to choking inside the closed van,” Valenzuela said.
Sans the absence of clear guidelines on the disposal of undocumented hogs that were refused, Provincial Board Member Jonathan Torralba, committee on agriculture chair, said a hearing has been set for 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 to amend some provisions of the ASF ordinance.
If the test shows the hogs are safe for consumption, they will be donated to the Marines and to city and provincial jails, Torralba said.
Due to the continuing ASF threat in the province, with several areas under the red (infected zone) category, the Provincial Veterinary Office and the police continues to strengthen its transport regulation measures in quarantine checkpoints by inspecting delivery cargos and private vehicles entering and departing the province. (Leilanie Adriano)
(Source: Philippine News Agency)