ILOILO CITY – A 90-day ban on pork products from areas with positive cases of African swine fever has been imposed in this city, the regional capital of Western Visayas.
Mayor Jerry Treñas here signed an executive order banning the entry of live pigs, hog carcasses, pork meat, and pork by-products coming from ASF areas.
Treñas’ executive order not only protects Iloilo City from ASF, but also protects Western Visayas’ hog industry.
As the trade and commercial hub of Western Visayas, Treñas emphasized there is a need to take steps to avert the entry of pork products tainted with ASF.
Treñas noted that Iloilo is also an inter-regional port of entry and exit, especially the Iloilo International Port.
While the Iloilo provincial government also temporarily banned pork products from ASF-affected areas, key leaders in the swine industry is have issued a letter asking for a total ban as a more stringent safety measure.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the letter of the Iloilo-Bacolod Association of Veterinary Sales Representatives has been forwarded to the Department of Agriculture to get the agency’s input if a total ban is needed at this time. (Tara Yap)
