PLANS to further extend the 90-day pork ban are now seriously being looked into amid the worsening problem of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in Luzon, said Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday, November 11.
"Definitely, because as you can see it is already spreading in Luzon and it's no longer limited to the three [initial] provinces identified before," Lacson said.
He said that in the meantime, he urged consumers in Negros Occidental to patronize local pork products.
With the holiday season just weeks away, the governor advised the public to try locally produced ham instead of those coming from other areas.
"Let's support our local industry and buy local pork products," Lacson urged.
He also lauded the efforts of the provincial task force on ASF in protecting the local hog industry, although he also urged them not to let their guard down.
"Of course, I commend them but we need to continue being vigilant," he said. "One mistake can cause [problems] for the whole Negros Occidental."
Earlier, Lacson, who chairs a local task force on ASF, issued Executive Order 19-40, series of 2019, which temporarily bans pork products from Luzon.
The ban was implemented days after the Department of Agriculture confirmed cases of ASF in Luzon, particularly at farms in Rizal and Bulacan.