By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – An estimated P165,000 worth of pork and pork products were intercepted in a span of five days after the Negros Occidental provincial government ordered a ban on such items due to threats from the African swine fever (ASF).
In its report covering Oct 15 to 19, 2022, the Provincial ASF Task Force reported that seized pork products mainly from Iloilo totaled 666.5 kilos.
In a memorandum on Oct 15, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson imposed a ban on the entry of live pigs and pork products from the neighboring Panay and Guimaras Islands.
This, after the town of Oton in Iloilo reported the first case of the African Swine Fever (ASF).
Based on a copy of the memorandums, Lacson pointed out that ASF poses a great threat to Negros Occidental, being one of the major producers and gateway of live pigs being supplied to Luzon, Central and Eastern Visayas.
In line with the Provincial Ordinance No. 2012-024 (ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental), Lacson ordered the Provincial Veterinary Office’s (PVO) Provincial ASF Task Force to ban the entry of all pigs, pork, and pork byproducts from the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, and Guimaras.
Lacson also ordered the task force to conduct rigid and stringent screening and inspection of incoming shipments of live animals and pork products.
The report, signed by Dr. Placeda Lemana of the Provincial Veterinary Office, indicated that the confiscated items were either shipped back to the point of origin or disposed of.
These were intercepted at the BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, New Bacolod-Silay Airport, San Carlos City port and Escalante City port.
“We assure [the public] that, here in Negros Occidental, our swine industry is still ASF-free,” Lemena further said.
