Google map of Cagayan Valley
CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela -- Agriculture officials have tightened their quarantine checkpoints at entry and exit points of Cagayan Valley following the seizure by the police of at least 44 kilograms of suspected contaminated and undocumented pork meat along the national road in San Mateo, Isabela at dawn on Thursday.
Dr. Roberto Busania, regional technical director for operations and extension services of the Department of Agriculture in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), said they have deployed monitoring teams from their regulatory division while the seized meat was immediately buried in a safe dumpsite even though it was not confirmed to be infected with African Swine Fever (ASF).
"The seized meat were buried for safety and security reasons as we had subsisting swine entry ban while agriculture officials and local government units have been monitoring the checkpoints," Busania told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.
Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya have imposed a total swine entry ban following the approval of executive orders by the respective provincial governors in the said provinces.
"The aim here is to shut down the entry of suspected ASF-contaminated meat in the region even as the DA and local government units have been exerting joint efforts during the disposal and burying of seized meats," Busania said.
Quarantine officials have put up two checkpoints in Santa Fe and Kayapa, both in Nueva Vizcaya.
Another checkpoint was installed in Quirino Province to avert any entry of contaminated and undocumented swine meat.
A quarantine checkpoint was likewise put up in Santa Praxedes in Cagayan province, the gateway to Ilocos Norte. (PNA)
