ASF CHECKPOINT. The African swine fever (ASF) quarantine checkpoint of the Antique Provincial Veterinary Office starts operating in the municipalities of Libertad and Pandan on Monday (Feb. 22, 2021). Delivery van drivers unaware of the prohibition on the entry of pork and pork-based products from Luzon or other ASF-affected areas were initially reprimanded. (Photo courtesy of Antique ProVet)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The towns of Libertad and Pandan in the northern portion of the province started enforcing Monday their quarantine checkpoints as a preventive measure against the African swine fever (ASF).
Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, head of the Public Health Division of the Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) office, said the checkpoints are initially established in the borders of Aklan and Antique.
The checkpoints are being manned by personnel of their respective Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) and the local police.
“We initially established the checkpoints in the northern towns of Antique, and with that of Antique and Iloilo in the southern part by tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.
Ardamil said they initially encountered some complaints from delivery van drivers who were not aware of the checkpoints or the prohibition on the entry of pork-based products from Luzon or other ASF-affected areas in the country.
“As of today, we only reprimanded the delivery van drivers transporting the goods,” he said.
Ardamil said the provincial ordinance imposes a fine of PHP1,000 to PHP5,000 or imprisonment of six months up to one year or both at the discretion of the court for those transporting pork products from ASF-affected areas into the province.
Libertad Mayor Mary Jean Te is supporting the establishment of the checkpoints to prevent the possible spread of ASF in the province.
“Our hog industry in Libertad is just mainly backyard but we also need to protect them from the ASF,” she said in a separate interview.
Te said their municipality does not transport hogs to other provinces because it is only good for local consumption. (PNA)
