| Animal
quarantine checkpoint set up in Ilocos Sur
 |
Gov.
DV Savellano (right) welcomes Agriculture Sec. Arthur
Yap during his most recent visit to Ilocos Sur. |
Ilocos
Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor “DV” Savellano has
launched a 24-hour animal quarantine checkpoint operation
here.
He
ordered the establishment of a quarantine checkpoint on the
national highway in Barangay Bio in Tagudin town.
Joining
the governor in the simple launching ceremony were other provincial
officials, heads of national and local offices such as the
police, the Department of Agriculture and veterinary offices.
“We established this quarantine (checkpoint) for the
development of the livestock industry and, at the same, protect
our animals from diseases as provided for in our Provincial
Ordinance No. 4-13, series of 2004,” he said.
“All livestock that will be shipped in and out of our
province are subject to quarantine checkpoint. Animals that
are found to be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases
will be isolated to prevent the spread of these diseases,”
he said.
Province Ordinance No. 4-13, series of 2004, requires all
animals to pass through the animal quarantine checkpoint,
whether these are being shipped in or shipped out in the province.
These are charged with inspection fees as follows: carabao,
cattle and horse – P20 per head; hog and goat –
P10; fighting cocks – P5; poultry (day-old chicks) –
10 centavos; chicks — 25 centavos; dressed chicken –
25 centavos; and eggs – P10 per 360 pieces.
Provincial Veterinary Officer Ernesto Mendoza said that after
the payment of inspection fees, a shipping permit and veterinary
health certificate will be issued to shippers.
“The animals passing through the province, like cattle
that will be shipped from Pangasinan to Ilocos Norte will
be exempted from paying inspection fees, but the animals will
be checked, including the health certificates and shipping
permits,” Mendoza said.
“Animals that are shipped in and shipped out of the
province will be charged with inspection fees, like an animal
from the province that goes to other provinces and an animal
that entered and delivered to this province,” he said.
Of the collected inspection fees, 85 percent will go to the
provincial government, 10 percent to the municipal government,
and five percent to the barangay.
Governor Savellano said the quarantine checkpoint will be
manned by personnel of the provincial government, provincial
veterinary office, municipality of Tagudin, policemen, Ilocos
Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), members of the Community
and Involvement Service (CIS) and officials and tanods of
Barangay Bio.
To
further inform the precautionary measures in case an outbreak
of animal disease, Savellano maximizes the tri – media
to immediately reach out his constituents in the grassroots.
“We are immediately airing over the radio the preventive
measures in case an outbreak of a particular animal disease
like the recent outbreak of hog cholera,” he told.
The governor also planned to put up quarantines in the future
at the boundaries of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in Sinait
town; and of Abra province and Ilocos Sur in Narvacan town.
(Freddie G. Lazaro/PIA Ilocos Sur)
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