President Rody Duterte has approved the utilization of the Quick Reaction Fund (QRF) of the Department of Agriculture for the emergency procurement of 20 units of X-Ray machines which will be established in all international airports of the country to check agricultural products, especially meat, brought in by passengers.
Finance Secretary Carlos G.Dominguez, head of the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) Committee, endorsed the DA proposal citing the need for the country to protect its borders from plant and animal diseases notably the African Swine Fever which is devastating the hog industry of many countries.
Sec. Dominguez also approved the installation of the meat and agri X-Ray machines in the customs area in all airports so that all hand carried and checked in baggages of incoming passengers, especially those coming from ASF-affected countries, could be checked.
Philippine Quarantine Laws prohibit the entry of meat, fisheries and horticulture products, including planting materials, if these are not covered by Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Permits issued by both the BAI and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
In the proposal submitted by the DA, a total of P130-M from the QRF will be utilised for the immediate purchase of the X-Ray Equipment and the implementation of additional safeguards against the entry of agricultural products through the airports.
The DA-BAI recently confiscated canned goods at the Clark International Airport which when tested by the Virulogy Division of the BAI contained genetic materials of the ASF virus.
The DA-BAI has already deployed sniffing dogs in the major airports as a deterrent.
The DA Secretary, however, believes that the country’s quarantine measures should be stricter to prevent the entry of animal diseases, like the devastating ASF.
The DA will be implementing stringent quarantine measures comparable to those of advanced agricultural countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the US.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(Article taken from the Official Facebook Page of DA Secretary Manny Piñol)
