Senator Bong Revilla has filed a resolution (P. No. 195) calling for stricter implementation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 10611, or the Food Safety Act of 2013, to ensure protection of public health and market access of locally-produced foods and food products is facilitated.
Revilla believes that a strict implementation of the Food Safety Act will ensure that the public are protected from food-borne and water-borne illnesses and unsanitary, unwholesome, misbranded, or adulterated food.
The veteran legislator filed the resolution to urge the relevant agencies to act swiftly in protecting consumers against the threats of African swine fever which was declared prevalent in several areas in the country by the Department of Agriculture (DA) since September this year.
African swine fever is a highly-contagious viral disease that causes high fever, loss of appetite, and skin and internal organ haemorrhage to pigs, warthogs, and boars. The disease has threatened the country’s P260-billion swine industry which provides livelihood to millions of Filipino families.
Roughly 65 percent, or two-thirds of the local swine industry, are comprised of small backyard raisers who will mostly absorb the negative economic impact if swine flu will not be contained.
“Adequate food safety nets and protocol are in place to effectively prevent the proliferation of infected meat and meat products.”
Revilla believes that adequate food safety nets and protocol are in place by virtue of R.A. 10611 to effectively prevent the proliferation of infected meat and meat products, and ensure that prevention and possible propagation of the diseases will be halted at once.
“Panahon na para mahigpit na ipatupad ang Food Safety Act para sa kaligtasan ng mga consumer lalo pa at nagkalat na ang kung anu-anong sakit na pumapasok sa ating bansa,” the senator said.