Around 60 heads of live hogs are currently put on hold at the old slaughter house in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte after these were found to have insufficient shipping requirements, authorities reported on Tuesday.
In a phone interview with Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito, he said the apprehended hogs were supposed to be transported to Cagayan from its alleged source in Paoay, Ilocos Norte but were questioned at the animal quarantine checkpoint for lack of travel documents.
According to Benemerito, police authorities then escorted back the truckload of hogs to Paoay town but unfortunately the alleged seller could no longer be contacted.
“We talked with the local government unit of Paoay to take temporary custody of the animals but the mayor denied it,” said Benemerito.
With this, the local government unit of Pagudpud through its Municipal Agriculture Office took custody of the apprehended live hogs pending the court’s release order.
Unfortunately, 13 out of the 60 heads died. Samples were taken for laboratory test to ensure these hogs are not infected with the dreaded African swine fever (ASF).
To date, authorities have yet to wait for the lab test result before the remaining live hogs can be released.
As more towns in Ilocos Norte are being hit by ASF, the Ilocos Norte government has intensified its strict monitoring of exported live hogs in the province and ensure stable prices and supply of pork in the market.
Based on the latest data of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Ilocos Norte has around 88,000 heads of hog which is sufficient to supply the local demand for three to four months.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Loida Valenzuela recommended to limit the export of piglets in the province to 50 per month until the number of livestock population and their prices are back to normal.
Source: Philippines News Agency
