• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
While Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson respects the sentiments of Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, in connection with the latter’s disappointment in the burning of 240,000 table eggs that were seized due to fake documentation, he yesterday said that they are “very serious” in their campaign against the entry of Bird Flu and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the province.
Anything that will threaten our livelihoods, especially livestock, whether pork or chicken, we will continue to protect, Lacson stressed.
The 240,000 table eggs seized by quarantine personnel at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, after the shippers presented fake documents, were destroyed as part of the precautionary measures of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, and highly urbanized Bacolod City, in the fight against Avian Influenza, commonly known as Bird Flu.
Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, the president of the Association of Chief Executives – Negros Occidental, admitted being dismayed by the burning of the seized eggs, which had a market value of P1.4 million. He said it “can still be eaten by humans” and “should be donated to those who are in need of food.”
Once the origin is questionable, we can’t take any chances, Lacson said.
Negros Occidental has imposed a total ban on the entry of live birds and poultry products, such as meat and eggs, from areas affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu, which includes Panay and Guimaras, as well Luzon and Mindanao.
On Monday, the Bulacan provincial veterinarian confirmed a bird flu outbreak at a poultry layer farm in Sta. Maria town, where at least 17,000 chickens were culled to prevent the spread of the disease.
Benitez said he wants a review of the policies on food items seized by government, especially in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental is one of the top livestock provinces nationwide, with a P4 billion livestock industry, aside from being a top backyard hog producer, with P6-billion hog industry.
The province has banned the entry of live pigs and pork related products from Panay, Guimaras and other areas of the country where African Swine Fever cases have been monitored by the Department of Agriculture.
The Bacolod City Veterinary Office also stood its ground with regard to the destruction of the confiscated table eggs. Lacson said “we are in cooperation with Bacolod City, who agreed to join us, in the fight against Avian Flu and ASF.”
It became the responsibility of Bacolod City government to handle those eggs that were supposed to go to Iloilo, he added.*
