Dear Mr./Ms. Editor:
We are from Mulat Youth Organization and we would like to give our stand on Al G. Pedroches column last October 28, 2018. And our stand on the article issue is as follows:
If it cant be cured, it better be not allowed is the message of your issue regarding the African Swine Flu. Your column last 28th of October has been an eye opener for us, your readers, especially that we, Mulat Organization, has the goal of giving awareness to the public and a call to act.
An act from DTI would be much appreciated by the mass since it is our health safety and livelihood that is at risk in this issue. That is why we, the Mulat Youth Organization, are one with you in this stand of removing imported pork meats in the market for the meantime.
As students under the Accountancy, Business and Management strand, we agree to banning all pork infected with the African Swine Flu in the market because it is greatly harming the hog industry in the Philippines for accumulating a loss of approximately P1.
7 billion per month, according to the Department of Agriculture. If this continues, a declining economy is the most probable result because of less demand. So, we are pleased to hear that the importation of pork meat products is temporarily stopped as they are suspected to be contaminated with the virus which started the outbreak. But, we believe that the government should be held accountable and to immediately take action on resolving the issue to avoid risking the health and livelihood of many Filipinos.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that African Swine Fever (ASF) had caused deaths of hundreds of pigs in several areas in the Philippines. This disease threatens the Php260-billion swine industry in the country. The Philippines reportedly has 12 million hogs in its stocks. DA said it has set aside P82 million to prevent further spread of ASF.There is a financial help provided worth Php 3,000 for every affected hog raiser.
The ASF is not just a problem in Luzon but also in the whole Philippines and other countries in Asia. We highly recommend to the authorities to stop the import of pork from other countries for the meantime. The National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) said that ASF is not considered as a human health threat but there is a high possibility that it can become dangerous for humans health. Things like this should be clarified and discussed well to the people for awareness and to give understanding why imported pork should be removed to the market. It is a big impact to those people that has pork business as a source of living. ASF continues to spread especially that we do not have vaccine or drugs to prevent or treat the swines but this virus can also infect other animals like boar so we hope that the researchers from other affected countries can give us a solution right away.
Mulat serves as an instrument which filters facts from hoaxes about the growing controversy of ASF, this informs people that scientists claim that the virus can only infect pigs and not humans. The best way to give the people peace of mind is to get rid of all infected meat in the market. In addition to that, government agencies such as Food and Drug Administration, Department of Trade and Industry and DA should strictly monitor the quality of the meat and that it is safe from infection before selling it in the market. The Philippine Star should consider our recommendation because although it might be costly removing all the infected meat out of the market, its the most simple way to avoid controversy and stop spreading of the ASF virus since the leftovers of the people were used to feed the pigs, and we wouldnt know if the leftover meat contains the virus, since the virus can only infect pigs.
Hoping for your generous reply and kind consideration. Have a good day!