Despite DILG memo: Pork ban stays

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province’s ban on pork and pork-related products from Luzon will remain despite DILG Secretary Eduardo Año's order to lift it and allow the continuous distribution and sale of processed meat products that contain pork ingredient in all provinces.

Cebu was among the 56 local government units that imposed a lockdown on pork and pork-related products following a reported outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Luzon.

"I believe that as Governor of Cebu, my mandate and my responsibility is to protect the Province of Cebu: the Cebuanos and our P10.9 billion hog industry upon which thousands and thousands of Cebuanos depend on for their livelihood," Garcia said.

Earlier this week, the Department of Interior and Local Government released a statement directing the LGUs "not to allow unwanted disruption of trade and commerce across the country and to allow the distribution and sale of processed meat products that contain pork as ingredient in all provinces subject to certain conditions."

Año assured that the government has been "aggressively and effectively" addressing the outbreak.

However, Garcia argued that had the government been successful in their mitigating measures, the virus would not have spread from the four originally-infected barangays in Rizal to Bulacan, Quezon and Nueva Ecija.

"The Executive Order that we have issued banning pork and pork-related products coming from ASF-infected countries as well as from Luzon, may I respectfully state, will have to stay," Garcia said firmly.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) also sent a letter to Año urging him to prioritize the welfare of the hog industry over the interest of the Philippine Association of Meat Producers, Inc. (PAMPI).

"The hemorrhage to the industry because of the ASF is real because of its effects on the demand for pork. It's catastrophic and it is now in billions of pesos," the letter reads.

SINAG has also urged the DILG not to interfere with the protective measures of the local government units as the projected losses from ASF spread in the country would be more devastating.

"We hope that Secretary Año, since this letter is addressed to him, would seriously consider the claims set forth by the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura because these claims can be verified. On the other hand, we hope also that the claims by PAMPI will also be verified," Garcia said.  FPL (FREEMAN)