August 1, 2007

Mindanao's swine industry keeping a tight watch on hog cholera situation

The Philippines' would-be first fresh pork exporter has called for an intensified swine border control in the Mindanao region to prevent the spread of hog cholera which is currently plaguing the swine farms in Central Luzon. 

Stephen Castillo, general manager of Matutum Meat Packing Corporation in Polomolok, South Cotabato is cautious of the effect of hog cholera and pseudorabies virus outbreaks that hit Bulacan province to its looming pork exports to Singapore. The outbreaks recently affected 12 out of 21 towns and three cities of Bulacan but which the Bureau of Animal Industry declared under control late last week.

Castillo said it is important for concerned government agencies to ensure tight border control in Mindanao to spare the island's swine industry from the diseases that are present in hogs in other parts of the country.