4 vans with frozen meat, live hogs at San Mateo animal checkpoint ordered to turn back

Authorities at an animal checkpoint in San Mateo, Rizal have ordered four vans carrying frozen meat and live hogs to turn and head back to their places of origin, according to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Animal checkpoints were set up in San Mateo and have been operating 24 hours since Friday to prevent the entry of meat or pork or live hogs into the municipality.

Closed vans are checked to find out what these are transporting.

Among those conducting the inspection are police, sanitary and health staff of San Mateo Municipal Hall.

Drivers of the four vans were not able to show certificates from the National Meat Inspection Service, veterinary health certificates and shipping permits when they arrived at the Batasan-San Mateo Road animal checkpoint.

The latest van apprehended on Monday night at the Batasan-San Mateo Road animal checkpoint was from Carmona, Cavite. Its driver was not able to show documents for the frozen meat being transported.

Those vehicles transporting meat products with the proper documents are allowed inside the municipality.

16.5 tons of frozen meat

Meanwhile, the 16.5 tons of frozen meat products from China seized from apartments in Tondo, Manila on Monday were supposed to be buried in Pampanga.

However, the NMIS decided to have the products brought back to Manila as the Department of Agriculture will determine the proper disposal place in the metro.

The seized products will also have to be treated first before these are buried.

China is one of the countries affected by the African swine fever. Importation of meat from China has been prohibited.

Blood samples from hogs have already been sent abroad for testing of various animal diseases as increased mortality has been recorded in several areas, the Department of Agriculture said last week.

The tests will take from two weeks to three months, but Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the Bureau of Animal Industry has already quarantined the affected areas. —KG, GMA News