2 Cordillera towns ban pork, hog entry amid ASF scare

BONTOC, Philippines — Two municipalities in Mountain Province  have banned the entry and transport of live hogs, pork and pork products to protect the local swine industry from African swine fever (ASF).

The municipal government of Barlig began enforcing the ban on July 13, prohibiting the entry, transit, transport, purchase and sale of live pigs and pork products from the neighboring town of Natonin and other ASF-affected areas.

A similar ban is being implemented in the capital town of Bontoc, banning entry, transport and sale of live hogs and pork products coming from Sagada as part of heightened biosecurity measures against ASF.

Residents, traders, transporters and swine raisers have been urged to comply with the ban strictly.

While ASF does not infect humans and properly cooked pork remains safe to eat, the disease is highly contagious among pigs and have caused heavy losses on backyard hog raisers and the country’s swine industry.