Palace mobilizes all gov’t agencies to help prevent spread of ASF

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang directed Thursday all government agencies to coordinate and adopt policies aimed at containing the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country.

In a statement, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Office of the President directs “all executive departments, bureaus, agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and other instrumentalities of the government to coordinate, as well as to adopt policies and institute measures to manage, contain and control the transmission” of ASF in the Philippines.

At the same time, Panelo noted, the OP also directed all concerned and responsible government offices to “provide assistance, alternative livelihood, and skills training to those affected by ASF.”

Malacañang issued the order after it was reported by the Bureau of Animal Industries (BAI) that some meat products — hotdogs, longganisa, and tocino — from a Manila-based company tested positive for ASF.

The brands of the meat products, however, were not revealed.

Malacañang also urged the public to cooperate with government authorities in order to prevent the spread of ASF.

READ: Pangilinan to DTI, DA: Identify processed meat brands with ASF

Last month, the Department of Agriculture admitted that ASF has hit the Philippines.

ASF, a fatal animal disease among hogs, is now in seven areas in Luzon, including Cavite, Quezon City, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Rizal.

READ: DA: African swine fever in PH; pork safe