The local government will strictly observe the recommended zoning and movement plan developed by the Department of Agriculture designed to contain the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.

Mayor Beng Climaco signed Executive Order 543 – 2020, an act strictly implementing the guidelines of zoning and movement protocols with regards to the movement, sale, and trade of hogs, pork and pork products in the country.

This is pursuant to the national directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, thru Administrative Order 22, urging local government units and national government agencies to harmonize efforts with the Department of Agriculture versus ASF.

City Veterinarian Mario Arriola said the zoning and movement plan is a map guiding local government on where hogs, pork, and pork products can be transported, sold, or traded according to classified zones. These zones are based on geographical limits established by authorities upon identification of infected and quarantine zone as well as ASF status of provinces and regions.

There are two general zones – containment zone and free zones. The containment zone is further categorized into four zones depending on the area’s ASF status: red (infected zone), yellow (surveillance zone), pink (buffer zone), and light green (protected zone).

In the recent case of ASF outbreak in the Davao region, the province of Davao is considered under the red zone, meaning no pork product from the Davao region is allowed to enter any province or region in Mindanao, Dr. Arriola explained.

The Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVET) assured the public that Zamboanga City remains ASF free due to vigilant and stringent anti-ASF measures adopted by the local government.

The city bars the entry of hogs, pork, and pork products from countries and areas with ASF. Also barred from entering the city are pork products that do not have shipping permit and veterinarian certificate.

Thru Task Force Karne, around 63 kilograms of illegally entered meat were confiscated and properly disposed.

Local government employees have been deployed to assist in checkpoints and the city’s borders and entry points have been secured. Dr. Arriola also called on residents to avoid feeding hogs and pigs with swill (hinugas, food scraps) as this may contain contaminated pork products.  (Jasmine Mohammadsali)