SINAG warns DA: Implement 'quarantine first policy' or else face charges

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) warned the Department of Agriculture (DA) to strictly implement the "quarantine first policy" to address the spread of several animal diseases such as the African swine fever (ASF), or else face charges moving forward.

In a letter dated October 26, SINAG blamed the government's "continuous inability" to thoroughly examine imported agricultural and food products at the country's ports for the spread of ASF and other diseases such as the avian flu, foot-and-mouth disease, and weevil or bukbok.

The letter was addressed to Agriculture Secretary William Dar, and was signed by SINAG chairperson Rosendo So.

"Without quarantine control at the port of first entry, we remain vulnerable for the further spread of COVID, ASF, avian flu, and even FMD since imports of all kinds — frozen, chilled, processed (cooked or raw) — are easily brought to the country," the letter read.

"If no concrete action will be undertaken in the next 30 days, we will not hesitate to seek legal remedy and file the appropriate charges," it added.

In response, Dar said the DA has already allocated P527 million that will be used at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) for a quarantine facility currently at its designing stage.

"What is he saying, we are implementing already at matagal na. The planning and design of the first border facility is almost done. About P527 million will be used in MICP for the facility," he said via mobile message.

For its part, the DA first confirmed the presence of the ASF in the Philippines in September 2019. It blamed the outbreak mainly on imports from China and the practice of swill feeding.

Just last month, Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. said that due to the strict measures, local pork producers are forced to transfer their hogs to other countries and risk spreading the virus, rather than kill their hogs without enough financial assistance from the government.—AOL, GMA News