DA agrees with ban on hogs

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture concurred with the total but temporary ban on live hogs, pork and pork products from Luzon entering Cebu as imposed by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

This developed as DA Secretary William Dar met with Garcia, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and DA-7 Director Salvador Diputado in a closed-door meeting the other night as they discussed the issues and measures adopted in Central Visayas to prevent the possible entry of the African Swine Fever.

Cebu has implemented the ban since Sept. 18.

Earlier, Dar appealed to the political leaders of Bohol and Cebu to reconsider their decision imposing a total ban on hogs, pork and processed pork products from Luzon and to “soften their hearts and allow the transport and trade of ASF-free hogs, pork, pork products and processed food items to and from their respective provinces.”

Garcia, in an interview with the press, said that Dar has already read her executive order and saw that the ban, although total, is just temporary.

“It is only for 100 days and we really hope that the situation will really improve after a hundred days or even before that,” Garcia said.

Dar said the differences have been ironed out, adding that he will continue to communicate and exchange notes with Garcia on the matter.

“We have friendly exchanges and in the end, we have the same objective, that is to protect the hog industry in the country. We are all best of friends,” said Dar.

Meanwhile, Diputado said that he is happy that all parties have agreed in harmony on the protection of each border to prevent the entry of ASF, especially in Central Visayas.

“We really have to protect, especially Central Visayas, kay kung ang ASF pananglitan makasulod sa Bohol or sa Negros or sa Siquijor, sayon na lang kaayo na pagsulod sa Cebu,” said Diputado.

Rolando Tambago, president of the Central Visayas Pork Producers Cooperative, in press conference yesterday said that they are happy that the total ban on live hogs, pork and pork products remains while the situation in Luzon is not yet stabilized.

“Ni-support mi sa desisyon ni Governor Garcia ug sa desisyon ni Secretary Dar. Cebu has to protect its P11 billion hog industry and we cannot put this on risk,” said Tambago.

In a statement, CeViPPCo said that on the supply side, Cebu hog raisers can supply 85 percent of the local demand and the 15 percent can be replaced by other animal protein sources like beef and chicken.

It said that Cebu does not source pork and live hogs supply from Luzon as it mostly sources from other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao, like Bohol and Negros.

Cebu is the fourth largest pork producing province in the country with annual production of 53,890 tons valued at P11 billion.

“There are at least 150,000 Cebuano families who are directly dependent on swine raising and are at risk of losing their livelihood should we fail to stop ASF from entering our territory,” the statement read.  — JMD (FREEMAN)