Mayor Beng Climaco has deployed 12 City Government to assist the Department of Agriculture in manning designated major ports located in the city’s port of entries amid the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Davao Occidental.

The emergency deployment of LGU personnel is contained in Special Order 001, series 2020 issued by Mayor Climaco in response to the February 3 letter of DA Regional Executive Director Rad Donn Cedeño requesting immediate assistance and services of 12 personnel from the city government.

The 12-man team is composed of veterinarians, livestock inspectors, farm workers, special fisheries agents, agricultural technologists, agriculturists and sanitary inspectors coming from the offices of the City Veterinarian, City Agriculturist and City Health.

The deployment covers a period of one week. The personnel will assist in manning the designated major ports located at the Zamboanga City Airport and Seaport and Sangali Fishing Port.

Meanwhile, City Veterinarian Dr. Mario Arriola reminded the public abou the supplemental notice in reference to Executive Order BC 500-2019, issued by Mayor Climaco last November.

The supplemental notice prohibiting the entry in Zamboanga City of live pigs, boar semen, pork and processed pork products from ASF infected provinces.

Business establishments within the territorial jurisdiction of the city using pork and pork products from Luzon are directed to comply the prohibition and make the necessary adjustments to their business operations, based on the supplemental notice.

The notice likewise directs food establishments in the city to “comply with the proper disposal of kitchen refuse and that no kitchen refuse should be given or sold to individuals to prevent it from being used as feed for hogs.”

Individuals and officers of companies or businesses that will be apprehended transporting, selling, facilitating the sale and transport of the prohibited products shall be prosecuted and meted with other appropriated legal actions, the supplemental notice added.

The public particularly punong barangays, local stakeholders and other concerned sectors and individuals are urged to be more vigilant and take necessary actions in order to protect the city against ASF. (Sheila Covarrubias)