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MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/07 May) — The Provincial Veterinary Office has been asked to study the relocation of its animal quarantine station in Alae, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon amid talks it falls within the territorial boundary of Cagayan de Oro City and not Bukidnon.
Provincial board majority floor leader Nemesio Beltran filed a resolution urging Gov.
Alex Calingasan to order the relocation of the present health quarantine.
“It is now time for the provincial government of Bukidnon to commission a task force that would study and recommend in what site within the territorial boundary of Bukidnon the present Alae Health Quarantine be relocated,” Beltran said in a resolution that was unanimously approved. He added that the relocation would pave the way for the establishment of a modern quarantine complex. The province’s animal health quarantine in Lorega, Kitaotao, Bukidnon for vehicles coming from Davao City has been renovated.
He added that the relocation would also cause improvement of the highway portion that would be vacated by the Alae station.
Dr. Nancy Diez, provincial veterinarian, told the provincial board that personnel at the quarantine stations are tasked to monitor incoming and outgoing livestock and poultry movement and to inspect vehicles carrying meat and meat products. She said the quarantine stations should also check the veterinary health certificate of the animals being transported. The quarantine staff should stop vehicles and request passengers of all public utility vehicles to step down and step on foot baths to protect Bukidnon from foot and mouth diseases, she said.
But a major concern in the Alae station, based on previous appearances of PVO officials at the provincial board is that many drivers evade the health check, some of them saying Bukidnon has no jurisdiction. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
