NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that the committee on agriculture of the provincial board will hold a public hearing Tuesday, November 19, on the proposed ordinance which aims to prohibit the entry of live hogs and pork products in the province amid the worsening problem caused by the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Based on a document signed by provincial secretary Maki-Angel Ascalon, the hearing, which is going to be chaired by Board Member Andrew Montelibano, will discuss the proposed ordinance.

Lacson agreed that there are some concerns that pork products coming from swine fever affected areas may be smuggled in the province, although he noted that some businesses based from Luzon are planning to source pork from Negros Occidental.

Last week, the governor revealed plans to extend the ongoing 90-day pork ban due to the worsening ASF problem in Luzon.

“As you can see, it is already spreading in Luzon and it’s no longer limited to the three [initial] provinces identified before,” he said. (TDE)