he pork siomai earlier confiscated from Iloilo Terminal Market tested negative for African swine fever. Iloilo City Veterinary Office head, Dr. Tomas Forteza, said four of the 11 packs were sent to Manila for testing with Department of Agriculture-Region VI director Remelyn Recoter releasing the results earlier this week.
Forteza noted, the city will continue to intensify its surveillance and monitoring of pork products from areas affected by the disease.
The City Veterinary Office earlier reported the confiscated items were not properly documented.
In addition, the pork products were said to have entered Panay via Roxas City, Capiz.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the results are good news.
An earlier executive order by Treñas barred the entry of all meat and pork products from areas affected by the virus.
Following the incident, the city government strengthened their monitoring and surveillance operations with the 40-person African Swine Fever Monitoring and Surveillance Task Force.
“They will be reporting to the Bureau of Quarantine Service of the Bureau of Agriculture,” Forteza explained./WDJ