BANGUED, Abra (16 October) -- The Provincial Government has rescinded its total ban on the shipment of live swine, swine products and by-products into and out of the province per Executive Order No. 05 series of 2006 issued by Governor Vicente P. Valera on September 26, 2006.

Dr. Ruston P. Valera, Provincial Veterinarian explained that his office received complaints from concerned parties that the total ban on the shipment of swine and its by-products has greatly prejudiced the production, marketing and slaughter of swine and the stability of the finances or income of the swine raisers.

It will be recalled that the governor issued Executive Order No. 03 Series of 2003 for the total ban on the shipment of swine and swine by-products into and out of the province because of reported foot and mouth disease (FMD) cases in the region. The same EO likewise created the Provincial FMD Task Force and the administration of massive vaccination of swine against FMD in the province.

This move eventually led to the inclusion of Abra as an FMD-Free province by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry.

Since it is the policy of the government to encourage livestock production and provide essential impetus to achieve food security and higher income for the farmers, a selective ban is imposed in order to address the problems raised by the stakeholders in the industry as well as to allow enterprise development to grow.

The OPVET is directed to regularly monitor possible changes in the FMD status of the province. The choke points established for this purpose are still being manned to impose the existing control measures to prevent the recurrence of FMD in Abra due to the shipment of such commodities into the province.