THE local government of Talisay City, Cebu will help lechoneros who are affected by the province-wide ban on the entry of live hogs from Luzon following the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).
Mayor Gerald “Samsam” Anthony Gullas Jr. said his office will link lechoneros to backyard hog raisers in the city and other parts of the province.
The city, which is known for its tasty roasted pigs, have more than 40 lechoneros in its fold.
On Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, Gullas met them; he heard their complaints, mostly about their problems in acquiring hogs from other places in the past days.
“They are really facing a problem for lack of supply. Almost all of their supplies come from Negros. I told them that we need to be cautious,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Gullas said he understood the move of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who ordered a 100-day temporary ban on the entry of live hogs, pork-related products and byproducts from Luzon. Seven areas in Bulacan and Rizal provinces have been hit by ASF.
Garcia, he said, is just being cautious about ASF as she does not want the local hog industry to be affected by the virus.
“The governor wants the province to be safe,” Gullas said.
Before the outbreak in Luzon, Garcia had issued Executive Order 13 temporarily banning the importation of meat products from countries hit by ASF.
The disease does not pose any hazard or risk to humans, but it is very infectious to pigs and could bring bring down a swine industry.
The lechoneros’ supply woes might affect the revival of its Lechon Festival, which will coincide with the fiesta celebration in honor of the city’s patroness, Sta. Teresa de Avila in October.
Aside from the festival, they also feared that they cannot meet the demands of their customers during the holidays.
Gullas said he told the lechoneros that there is no ban on getting hogs from other provinces except Luzon.
He said they must get clearances before they can bring in hogs—veterinary health certificate, livestock handler’s permit from the Department of Agriculture (DA), livestock and poultry transport registration from the DA and the Bureau of Animal Industry, certificate of vehicle registration, disinfection clearance and farm certificate.
Gullas said the lechoneros’ dilemma is that they have to purchase 20 hogs before they can apply for a farm certificate. They also said they cannot get the document if they buy backyard-raised hogs.
However, the mayor said there is a new guideline, which states buyers of backyard-raised hogs in Negros only need to obtain a provincial certificate.FROM FMD OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / KAL