It’s a ‘porky’ year!

By Uriel Quilinguing

THREE weeks ago, we witnessed how people in many countries ushered in the New Year with a bang—the amazing fireworks on the world’s iconic landmarks. But there was none from mainland China.

Why? Because new year for the over 1.4 billion Chinese–aside from those residing and doing business overseas—is Feb. 5 yet. And, based on their traditional calendar, 2019 is The Year of the Pig.

Incidentally, Chinese authorities are on their toes, trying the contain the dreaded African swine virus from spreading

Also known as African swine flu (ASF), animals with the virus are likely to die and the Philippines’ Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture is on its nationwide information campaign.

Wednesday last week in Cagayan de Oro, BAI personnel were in a media forum at uptown mall of SM City and, as expected, the ASF was the focus of the discussion. It is also expected that the National Meat Inspection Service would be actively involved in this.

So precautionary measures are in place, the issuances of DA Memorandum Orders No. 22 and 23 which prohibits the use of catering wastes from international vessels and airplanes in piggeries and the importation of pork, respectively.

While we do not see foreign vessels at the Cagayan de Oro’s port in Macabalan often, those anchored at the Mindanao International Container Port in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental must have been routinely inspected.

The awareness campaign is in reaction to the a global health concern for swine and a proactive initiative and is commendable.

There are concerns however that are quite obvious but are not addressed appropriately.

One of them is the damaged diversion road just before quarantine in Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon which has been on that sorry condition for some time. Drivers would avoid passing through to avoid the risk of an accident. This facility is vital in the campaign against the spread of diseases that could affect farm animals.

I just hope other quarantine facilities are in good condition other than the one in Bukidnon.

For several weeks now, the prices of vegetables have been on a downtrend and there is no perceivable effort to stabilize them. Four or five months ago, tons of ripening tomatoes where left to rot at Bulua Westbound Terminal because there was no market for them.

We appreciate the agriculture department in promoting productivity among vegetable growers and entice schools and urban residents to raise vegetables and other crops in vacant lots. But there must be a way to find markets for their produce so that they will benefit from them in return.

The other concern is the looming dry condition and dry spell which the government weather agency has announced and these will affect not only Mindanao but the entire country as well. The agriculture agency must be at the forefront on information dissemination on this, with Pagasa providing the reliable information inputs.

Aside from being the Year of the Pig, a year-long campaign against African Swine Flu, the other kind of pork, the so-called “pork barrel” will also be among the favorite subjects during the campaign period for the May 13 midyear national and local elections. It’s a “porky” year for all of us.

(Uriel C. Quilinguing is a former editor-in-chief of this paper. He is also a past president of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club.)