BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose has ordered a temporary ban on pork and pork products from Luzon, following the reported presence of African Swine Fever in Rizal and Bulacan.
Lacson, chairman of the Provincial African Swine Fever Task Force, signed a resolution last Wednesday imposing the temporary suspension on pork products from Luzon for 90 days.
He said in the resolution that there is a pressing need to protect the swine population of the province from being infected with the dreaded disease.
With the confirmation of swine deaths in Rizal and Bulacan caused by ASF virus, pork and pork products from these provinces, whether fresh, processed, or canned, may carry directly the virus which would introduce the disease into the province, Lacson also said in the resolution.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said Negros Occidental is the country’s top producer of backyard swine worth P6 billion. Thus, he said, such move is the best solution to protect the swine industry in the province.
Despite the ban, Decena assured that the province still has enough supply of pork.
“We regularly monitor and give technical assistance to our backyard raisers. We also monitor and supervise our commercial producers,” he said.
Last Wednesday, five tons of illegally imported pork products worth P500,000 were seized by local authorities at Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. port here. (Glazyl Masculino)
