Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Scrap Metal Recycle Association reminded its members to be vigilant when dealing with scrap metal dealers as it may be sourced from stolen materials.
Department of Agriculture (MANILA BULLETIN)
“We thank the Senate for pushing for the declaration of the state of calamity and for working the reduction of the MAV [minimum access volume] allocation on pork. Again, another moral victory for the local hog industry and the agriculture sector in general,” said Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) Chair Rosendo So.
It was in March when the Department of Agriculture (DA), upon the recommendation of the Senate, submitted to Malacañang a draft proclamation that seeks to put the entire Philippines in a state of emergency due to ASF outbreaks, which have been pushing meat prices, especially pork, higher
Published May 7, 2021, 4:10 PM
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will increase monitoring of pork imports coming into the country to prevent the entry of new African Swine Fever (ASF) variants that have started to cause problems in the hog sector of China, the world’s largest pork-producing country.
In a text exchange, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said there is a “need double our efforts for our monitoring and surveillance much more on smuggled pork and pork products”.
“We have strengthened our first border inspection and we will increase our monitoring and surveillance system,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar (MANILA BULLETIN)
In a text exchange, Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (ProPork) President Edwin Chen said the Philippine government is not capable to prevent new ASF variants that were recently detected in China, which could cause more harm to the already severely battered local hog industry.
“Time and time again we saw Yorme [Mayor Isko Moreno] apprehending smuggled meats in Manila. These meats can come from China and we know China has an ongoing outbreak of ASF variant strains,” Chen said.
A customer pays for pork at a roadside market stall in Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines. (Bloomberg file)
“Our government, sad to say, has been lax or is not capable of guarding our borders against diseases or pests from coming in,” he added.