By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent
THE capitol would likely relax its ban on hogs and pork products from other places this week despite apprehensions because that is what President Duterte wants.
Provincial veterinarian Benjamin Resma said this even as he spoke about what he said is an impending executive order from Duterte that is seen to allow the movement of hogs and pork products except for those that originated from areas adversely affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Resma said Duterte met with officials from Regions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and Caraga in Malacañang and discussed with them concerns raised by organized hog raisers.
“Nabalaka naman ang hog raisers sa Davao region ug Gensan (General Santos City) kay di na lagi sila kaagi dinhi sa ato and other areas. Gi-ban pud ta (Mindanao) sa Leyte area. Ang 80 percent sa market sa Leyte gikan sa Gensan,” Resma said.
Resma, who attended the meeting, said Duterte and the Department of Agriculture (DA) want the cities and provinces to go slow on their respective bans and make use of a color-coding scheme.
Areas with ASF cases would fall under code red, and it means the ban would cover hogs and pork products from these areas.
The collor yellow would apply to areas under surveillance while places that are ASF-free would fall under green.
Resma said Duterte made it clear that he wanted the scheme implemented.
Duterte, according to Resma, would sign an executive order anytime this week, and DA directors would then meet with local chief executives.
Resma, however, said he has apprehensions over the Palace’s move to open the province to hogs and pork products from other places. But he said he would follow the President’s order.
