Capitol bans hogs from Negros anew

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has imposed another temporary ban of live hogs and pork-related products from Negros Island.

An executive order was issued by the Governor on May 26, 2023 temporarily prohibiting the entry of live hogs, sows, piglets, boar semen and pork-related products from Negros Island to the Province of Cebu for 60 days.

This after a confirmed case of African Swine Fever (ASF) was reported in Negros Oriental.

".. on 20 of May 2023 and 25 May 2023, confirmed cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) were found in Dauin, Negros Oriental and Sibulan, Negros Oriental respectively," reads EO No. 13 of Garcia.

Furthermore, there were also reported pig mortalities in some local government units of Negros Occidental that "possibly caused by either classical swine fever (hog cholera) or ASF that "continue to create havoc" in the local hog industry there.

"With the confirmed cases of ASF in the Province of Negros Oriental and the uncertain causes of pig mortalities in the Province of Negros Occidental, there is a need to temporarily ban the entry of live hogs, sows, piglets, boar semen and pork-related products from Negros Island to protect the hog industry of Cebu," Garcia said in her EO.

With this, trucks with issued Cebu Provincial Livestock Transport Passes allowing them to carry pigs and pork meat products are also banned from entering the Province of Cebu for the said period or until July 25, 2023. — (FREEMAN)