Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Region 7 (Central Visayas) Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. (PNA file photo)
CEBU CITY – The chief of the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas on Friday reiterated that pork and all pork products are prohibited inside public utility vehicles (PUVs), amid the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Davao Region.
Retired Col. Eduardo Montealto Jr., LTFRB-7 regional director, said the agency has an existing policy since December last year that all fresh, frozen, and processed pork products and by-products like sausages and ham are prohibited inside all PUVs.
“We have a standing policy. Mosunod lang ta kay kusog kaayo ang kaso sa ASF karon (We need to abide by it because of ASF cases). Let us not wait for Central Visayas to have such a problem in Davao Region,” he said in an interview.
He said that pork and pork products are not allowed to be carried on board public utility jeepneys (PUJ), taxis, buses and passenger vans.
He further clarified that LTFRB operatives will apprehend the driver but not the passenger carrying pork or their by-products aboard any PUV, provided he or she can present a permit for the meat transport. He said violation of Republic Act 10536 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines carries the penalty of PHP200,000.
The standing order implemented in December 2019 mandates that the shipment of live animals, although healthy upon inspection but with incomplete shipment documents, will be held and the owner will be given 24 hours to complete the required documents.
If no document is presented, the pork or its by-products will be ordered returned to its origin.
Shipment of dead or sick animals with incomplete shipment documents will be confiscated and disposed of accordingly by the apprehending authorities.
The transport of cooked meat without or with incomplete documents will be also be held but the owner will be given 24 hours to complete the required documents.
The shipment of semi-cooked and raw meat with incomplete transport permit will be held but the shipper will be given 24 hours to complete documentation but the product will be confiscated in case of failure to present it.
Montealto said the passengers’ cooperation “is key in government efforts to contain ASF” that has killed more than a thousand hogs in Davao Region.
He said LTFRB-7 operatives will conduct inspection to apprehend drivers who will allow passengers carrying pork or any pork-based products on board their PUVs. (PNA)
