Kalibo Airport
AN AREA in Padada town with damaged structures have been fenced off for safety. Over 26,000 houses and 76 public structures in various towns in Davao del Sur province were affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Dec. 15. — BW/LEAN S. DAVAL, JR.

A CANNED ham confiscated from a passenger at the Kalibo International Airport about three weeks ago has tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office reported. DA-Western Visayas Regional Director Remelyn R. Recoter, in an interview Monday, said the China-made canned product was one of 18 samples from seized products submitted to the Bureau of Animal Industry for testing. “With the protocols, all the confiscated pork products were disposed,” she said. The DA official reiterated the call to travelers, especially homecoming Filipinos, to refrain from bringing pork and pork products into the region. She said the DA and other agencies remain on high alert because while Western Visayas remains ASF-free, the region is still at “high-risk” given the 24/7 operations of roll-on/roll-off vessels in Caticlan and some 30 international flights at the airport in Kalibo. “Even if we are ASF-free, we would like to maintain it… to those coming from Manila or ASF-affected countries, please don’t bring pork and pork products, especially this Christmas and New Year, just buy here,” she said in mixed English and Hiligaynon. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

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