Cong Wilbert Manoy “Wise” T. Lee urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to set up more checkpoints not only along roads but also in seaports to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country.

“Napaka-crucial ng mahigpit na pagbabantay para hindi na kumalat ang ASF na dahilan ng sobrang pagkalugi ng ating mga magbababoy. Milyon-milyon po ang nalulugi sa ating mga hog raisers, paano naman ang mga pamilya nila na dito lang inaasa ang pantustos sa pagkain at iba pang pangangailangan?” Lee, who recently attended as guest speaker at the Agarwood Orientation Seminar in Maasin, Leyte, asked.

“Kaya dapat dagdagan pa ng DA ang checkpoints nila para rito, lalo na may mga ulat na kumakalat na ang mga baboy palabas sa mga lugar na may ASF patungo sa ibang parte ng Luzon,” he said.

Previously, the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) seized two trucks in Quezon City carrying infected hogs reportedly from Quezon province. The trucks were on their way to Pangasinan province.

Lee said the DA should partner up with Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) as well as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to augment BAI manning checkpoints, aside from tapping personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“While we laud the BAI for proactively looking into tapping MMDA and local traffic enforcers to man checkpoints in Metro Manila, all hands must be on deck to genuinely curb ASF. We have force multipliers available from the PNP, HPG and from PPA that could be deployed should the BAI decide to set up more checkpoints along major highways and ports,” the solon from Bicol said.

There are currently six meat inspection checkpoints across the National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure that the pigs being delivered to slaughterhouses and in markets are ASF-free.

“Ayaw natin na maging epidemya itong ASF lalo pa’t wala pang sapat na bakuna sa bansa laban dito. Hindi pwedeng malamya sa pagpuksa ng ASF. Dapat doble-kayod ang gobyerno dito at tapatan ng agrisibong aksyon at mabilis na solusyon ang pagpigil sa pagkalat ng sakit,” Lee stressed.

The Bicolano lawmaker also urged the government into preparing to declare a state of national calamity should ASF spread beyond what could be controlled by the ASF vaccines, which have been earlier procured.

“2019 pa lang, nagkaroon na ng kaso ng ASF sa bansa. Huwag tayong maglokohan dito. Paulit-ulit na ito kaya walang excuse na di magkaroon ng komprehensibong plano para mapigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit, matulungan ang mga apektadong hog raisers, masigurong hindi magkukulang ang supply at protektahan ang mga consumers sa posibleng pagtaas ng presyo ng karne ng baboy,” he said.

Earlier, Lee filed House Resolution No. 1956 to investigate the escalating impact of ASF while calling relevant government agencies to provide assistance to hog raisers and prevent possible hike in pork prices.

“Filipinos deserve better so we should demand better protocols to protect the livelihood of local food producers and welfare of our consumers. Tulong-tulong po tayo: Tiyak na kabuhayan at dagdag na kita, gawin na natin. Murang pagkain, gawin na natin!” he stated.