By Betheena Unite The shipment of meat products from China found to be infected with African Swine Fever was already subject for disposal when the local government of Manila discovered it at the Manila Harbour Center in Tondo Wednesday, the Bureau of Customs clarified Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Manila Public Information Office via Minka Tiangco / MANILA BULLETIN) “We were in the process of condemnation,” Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla told the Manila Bulletin. “I think the lack of coordination with the LGU (local government unit) led to a little confusion as to why the infected meat was at Pier 18.” Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Wednesday afternoon inspected Marina 1 Container Yard, Manila Harbor Center in Vitas, Tondo, where the ASF-positive meat products, tagged the “biggest shipment of ASF-infected meat products,” were found. The Customs bureau on Jan. 25 said the shipment consigned to Dynamic M International Trading, Inc. arrived from China at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Dec. 11, 2019 and was alerted six days later. The shipment was found to contain various food items such as dumplings, pork-chicken balls, and roast chicken wings. After testing positive for the virus, the bureau ordered its disposal by burying it 25 feet underground at the Pier 18 landfill. The bureau, however, clarified that prior to the shipment’s disposal, it went through a series of examinations, explaining why the shipment was sent to Kawit, Cavite before being brought back to Manila for disposal. “The shipment was initially inspected by Customs at MICP’s designated examination area. And the shipment was transferred to the consignee’s warehouse at Goldkey Bldg., Toklong, Kawit, Cavite for the conduct of 100 percent examination by Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Customs,” the bureau said in a statement clarifying the issue. It added that the “transfer was found necessary to provide BAI the proper cold storage facility to ensure proper inspection of the meat products, and for that agency to conduct proper tests --a function which is beyond the authority and capability of Customs.” “Customs has taken cue from the expertise of BAI for the disposal of the shipment. Based on the disposal plan, the food items will be disinfected by BAI Veterinary Quarantine Services (VQS) and transported to the disposal facility of Eco Safe Agro Products located at Marina 1Container Yard, Manila Harbor Center, Road 10, Vitas, Tondo, Manila, and the items will be buried 25 feet underground at the Pier 18 landfill,” the bureau also said. During the Manila LGU’s inspection led by Domagoso, the mayor questioned why the Customs bureau listed the facility as an accredited rendering facility when it does not even have any rendering equipment. He also said the facility has no business permit for meat importation and cold storage. Domagoso said they did not allow the truck to leave the warehouse to prevent the possible recycling of the meat products that would pose health risks to consumers if they reach the market. An inter-agency team composed of officers from the Customs bureau, BAI-VQS, and the Philippine Coast Guard will oversee the transfer of the ASF-infected food items and witness the disposal, the Customs bureau said. During the inspection, Domagoso also questioned the presence of a Coast Guard personnel tasked to oversee the shipment while it undergoes disposal. READ MORE: PCG defends personnel rapped by Mayor Isko