The Philippines' prospects of exporting pork to Singapore within the year remain dim as it has yet to establish an Ebola-free-zone Mindanao, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said.

 

Dr. Reildrin Morales, officer in charge of BAI's Animal Health Division, noted that the government is still awaiting the antigen kits that would determine if local hogs are free from the Ebola reston virus. The antigen kits will come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

"The Singapore government wants us to establish an Ebola-free zone, specifically in General Santos City. The limiting factor is the testing kits," Morales told reporters on the sidelines of a forum on FMD.

 

The BAI official disclosed that the antigen kits from the CDC will be given to the Philippines for free. There is, however, no timetable yet as to when the testing kits will arrive.

 

"We are hoping that the testing kits will arrive in July. Once the kits arrive, we will begin the process of setting up the Ebola-free zone," he said.

 

Testing hogs for Ebola reston, BAI officials said, will increase the confidence of Singapore in the safety of pork products in General Santos City.

 

"The Singaporean government is keen on importing pork products from us. They are closely monitoring our progress in the establishment of the Ebola-free zone in General Santos," said Morales.