DA warns not to buy food waste from hotels, airlines

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday warned the public at large not to buy food waste from hotels and airlines to keep the African Swine Fever (ASF) from spreading further.

The ASF virus could have passed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“Napakaganda ang report na ‘yan kasi it validates ‘yung sabi-sabi noong araw. At wala kaming pruweba noon,” Agriculture spokesperson Noel Reyes told GMA News.

Reyes dismissed the likelihood that the ASF came from domestic sources.

“Walang ASF sa buong Pilipinas. Hindi endemic ‘yan sa atin. Ibig sabihin, galing ‘yan sa countries na may ASF na,” Reyes emphasized.

The ASF outbreak in selected areas of the country is so far having minimal impact on the country’s hog industry, but the Philippines remains at risk as it continues to allow imported meat products, the private sector said Tuesday.

Less than 1% of the hog industry has been affected by the ASF at this point, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG).

Reyes noted China, Europe, Central America, and Kenya in Africa as possible sources of the ASF virus.

Some enterprising individuals may have gotten hold of food waste, including imported pork meat and pork products, from hotels and airlines and sold them for as low as P15 per bag, Reyes said.

“Sinusunog ‘yan dapat. Hindi na pinagkakakitaan.”

A recent report by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) showed that 97% of the reported losses in Asia due to the ASF were recorded in the Philippines. The report covers the two weeks from August 30 to September 12.

The losses were calculated by OIE as the sum of dead and culled animals from the infected farm or backyard premises of the reported outbreak.

The OIE said the losses were notified through the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS).

The Agriculture department has called for stricter implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act in dealing with food waste, as well as the Animal Welfare Act for proper disposal of dead hogs.

Violators of the Solid Waste Management Act face fines of P300 to P1,000 or are required to render community service from one to 15 days.

Violators of the Animal Welfare Act, on the other hand, face jail terms of 6 month to two years and fines of P1,000 to P5,000. —VDS, GMA News