CHECKPOINT. Personnel of the Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) Office and the local police check a cargo van in line with the intensified implementation of a ban on pork and other pork-based products. The provincial government said Wednesday (Dec. 21, 2022) there would be no letup in guarding the borders against African Swine Fever (ASF). (PNA photo courtesy of Antique ProVet)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) Office will maintain its intensified border checkpoint even during the holidays to keep the province free of African swine fever (ASF).
Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, ProVet public health division head, said Wednesday their personnel have been deployed at the border checkpoint in Hamtic and Anini-y towns in the southern part of Antique and Pandan and Libertad in the north, on Christmas and New Year's eve and on Rizal Day, Dec. 30.
"Since there will still be intensified border checkpoints, we appeal to the people to observe the ban on the pork and other pork-based products," he said, referring to areas where ASF has spread like the nearby province of Iloilo and Guimaras.
In October, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao issued Executive Order (EO) 229 intensifying the border checkpoints in the province following ASF cases had been reported.
Meanwhile, Ardamil said the price of the live hog has now reached PHP140 per kilogram from PHP120 per kilo recorded last month because of the high demand in Luzon areas where ASF is still present.
Also, Ardamil assured Antiquenos that there is a sufficient supply of pork in the market in time for the holiday celebration. (PNA)
