Agriculture Department Dismisses Entire NAIA Quarantine Team

NAIA Quarantine Team Relieved by the Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has dismissed the entire NAIA Quarantine team over failure to implement certain protocols.

The entire quarantine of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were fired by DA Emmanuel Piñol for failing to implement a protocol to prevent the entry of pork products.

The NAIA quarantine team was tasked to prevent the entry of pork products from the nations affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) due to the threat of disease.

NAIA Quarantine Team

Piñol said that the government implements stricter rules and regulations to prevent the entry of African Swine Fever in the country.

“The relief of the quarantine officers at the NAIA should send a clear message to employees of the Department of Agriculture (DA) that we should not take administrative directives for granted,” Piñol said quoted by Philstar.

Previously, the DA chief released a memorandum urging the interception of pork products from ASF-affected countries.

NAIA Quarantine Team

The Agriculture Department secretary has also ordered the establishment of footbaths at the entry points of the country.

Unfortunately, NAIA quarantine team failed to place footbath facility during the holidays, according to the stakeholders of hog industry.

Here is the list of countries wherein pork imports are still banned:

  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • China
  • Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • Moldova
  • Latvia
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Ukraine
  • Zambia

The quarantine officers were also tasked to seize and destroy pork products from ASF-affected countries within a day after the interception.

What can you say about this? Just feel free to leave your comments and reactions to this article.

Leave a Comment