African swine fever may have entered PHL via NAIA trash —DENR

The African swine fever (ASF) that has been blamed for the deaths of scores of pigs in the country may have entered the country through the NAIA, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said.

According a report by Maliz Umali in "24 Oras", initial investigation by the DENR showed that bags of airport trash, which includes left-over food, were brought to the Payatas dumpsite.

Sorted, the leftovers were then sold to backyard hog-raisers at P150 per bag.

"Yung tira-tirang pagkain, pinagsasama sama and ito binebenta sa mga backyard hog-raisers," Environment Secretary Benny Antiporda told GMA News.

"Dun nakikita natin na isang malaking possibiity na nagbitbit ng virus na ito," he added.

The DENR has coordinated with the Department of Agriculture as regards the examination of the airport garbage for possible contamination.

Chopped pork

Meanwhile, parts of chopped pork floated down the river of Sitio Malanggam in Malolos Bulacan past 1 p.m. on Monday.

The decaying parts were brought to the Municial Veterinary Office where the portions were placed in a sack and buried. 

Similarly, officials had fished 58 dead pigs from Marikina river as of Tuesday, prompting Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro to issue a P200,000 reward on whoever could point out the culprit.

"Personal magbibigay tayo ng reward money sa kung sino ang makakapagturo sa mismong gumawa [at] nagtapon ng baboy na di proper ang procedure," Teodoro said. —Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News