The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday reminded the public that the government has imposed a ban on the transport of pork and pork-related products through public utility vehicles (PUV) as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the highly contagious African swine fever (ASF).
A statement issued by the LTFRB indicated that violators will be fined of up to P200,000 in accordance with Republic Act 10536 otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.
LTFRB Central Visayas director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. told the Chronicle that the directive was issued to them at the regional level three weeks ago.
“Tanang public utility vehicles, bawal. Ayaw nalang g’yud mo pagdala kay kung mag-inspection, madakpan [mo],” he said.
According to Montealto, the prohibition will be enforced by the LTFRB and other government agencies such as the Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Office.
The LTFRB, in its statement, said that all “fresh, frozen, and processed pork products and by-products like sausages, ham, etc.” are prohibited on all PUVs if the carrier does not have the needed permits.
Transported live animals which are “apparently healthy” upon inspection but are without shipment documents will be held while its handlers will be given 24 hours to comply with the requirements, otherwise, these will be ordered to be returned to origin.
The same policy applies with cooked pork meat.
Shipment of dead or sick animals with incomplete documents will be confiscated and disposed of accordingly by apprehending officers.
Likewise, shipments with falsified and tampered documents will be confiscated.
Meanwhile, the entry of Luzon-sourced pork and pork-related products remains prohibited in Bohol as ordered by Governor Arthur Yap through an executive order.
The governor amid calls from the Department of Agriculture to rescind the order has repeatedly defended his stand as a measure to protect the province’s P6 billion swine industry and 50,000 backyard hog raisers. (R. Tutas)