THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental is upbeat that there should be harmonization of efforts of both local and national governments amid the pressing woes on African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country, its top official said.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said Tuesday, September 24, that though the Provincial Government has issued a ban on its level, it would be better if the National Government would also order a transport ban of pork products from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao.
"It would result in confidence building among the provinces," he said, adding that this is already a national issue thus, there should be harmonization of policies as well in the local and national level.
The provincial veterinarian pointed out that the government has already issued a ban on pork products coming from at least 18 countries affected by ASF so why not ban those from Luzon.
"Luzon is currently affected by the virus so in order to protect and save the swine industry in the Visayas and Mindanao, which are still ASF-free, there should be a banning of pork products from the former," Decena added.
Individually, some provinces in the Visayas have already implemented a temporary ban on pork products from Luzon.
In Negros Occidental, the Provincial Government is currently implementing a 90-day ban as measure to ensure the safety of the P6-billion swine industry.
It was implemented days after the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed positive cases of ASF in Luzon, particularly in farms of Rizal and Bulacan.
The ban covers live pigs, pork, pork products and by-products from Luzon whether fresh, processed or canned which can carry the ASF virus.
On September 21, around 27 kilograms of pork asado siopao from Luzon were confiscated by members of the Provincial Task Force on ASF at Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City.
This was the first confiscation since the pork ban was implemented starting September 11.
Though the virus does not pose threat to the consuming public, the PVO said it threatens the swine industry.
It can be contagious and can bring harm by contaminating the animals, it added.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar appealed to the political leaders of Bohol and Cebu to reconsider their decision imposing a total ban on hogs, pork and processed pork products from Luzon.
Dar, in a statement, said "in these trying times, particularly in protecting our shores from the challenges of major diseases such as the ASF, we appeal for unity and brotherhood among our countrymen, most particularly our local chief executives."
He called on the governors of these provinces to "soften their hearts and allow the transport and trade of ASF-free hogs, pork, pork products and processed food items to and for their respective provinces."
Decena, who is the co-chair of the task force, said there is enough supply of pork products in the province despite the banning."
For Decena, however, the temporary ban in Negros Occidental should stand amid the ongoing woes on ASF especially that it reportedly spread to other areas in Central Luzon.
"We have enough supply of pork products here and we cannot suffer the entire swine industry," he said, adding that it is inherent in the functions of the local government to protect the interest of its constituents.