RECOGNIZED. Antique provincial veterinarian Florencio Macuja (right) presents to Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao on Jan. 28, 2022, the Certificate of Recognition given by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its efforts in keeping the province free from African swine fever (ASF). Antique established two additional checkpoints in the municipalities of Libertad and Anini-y to guard against the entry of ASF-contaminated meat products.(Photo courtesy of Antique PIO) SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique - The Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) has established two additional checkpoints to prevent the possible entry of the African swine fever (ASF) in the province. Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, ProVet Public Health Division head, on Thursday said the checkpoints are at the borders of the municipalities of Libertad and Anini-y as part of intensifying their guards against ASF. "If last year we only had the checkpoints in Hamtic and Pandan, this year we established additional checkpoints in Libertad being the border of Buruanga, Aklan and in Anini-y where there is an alternative coastal road to Antique from Iloilo province," Ardamil said in an interview. He said the checkpoints in Hamtic and Pandan, which were established Feb. 22, 2021, are effective in deterring the entry of pork-based products from Luzon and other ASF-affected areas in the country. Hamtic is the last town bordering Iloilo province while Pandan is the border with Aklan. When passing through checkpoints, personnel in-charge make sure that cargo transport carrying meat products has permits from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS). For its efforts in maintaining Antique ASF-free, the provincial government was recognized by the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) last year, Ardamil said. "The Certificate of Recognition especially commended the Antique provincial government in the implementation of the Provincial Ordinance 242-2020 that prohibited the entry and sale of pork-based products from ASF affected areas in the country," he added. (PNA) }