GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the ban on the entry of live pigs and pork in the province remains amid the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF).

“We stand by our ordinance on the banning of pork products and live pigs from Luzon and Mindanao and we will be guided by Administrative Order (AO) 22 of the Department of Agriculture that’s why we need legal advice,” Lacson said.

AO 22 directs all government agencies and local government units to strictly implement and comply with the National Zoning and Movement Plan for ASF under the DA administrative Circular No. 12, series of 2019.

Lacson said that the provincial government will also touch base with the hog raisers especially from the private sector.

“The ban will continue subject to necessary actions that we need to do in the future,” Lacson said as he emphasized that Visayas remains ASF free.

Lacson also expressed his appreciation for the reward system offered by the Hog Raisers Association to protect the province from ASF and strengthen the monitoring against the entry of live pigs and pork products.

The hog raisers have been concerned because neigboring provinces like Negros Oriental do not ban the entry of live pigs in their province.