THE Central Visayas Pork Producers Cooperative (CeViPPCo) said there is a stable pork supply in the region.
The assurance was made by CeViPPCo president Rolando Tambago even as Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia recently banned the entry of pork and pork-related products from the Davao region amid the threat of African swine fever.
“Pork supply for Cebu remains sufficient for the next three months considering the current supply-demand situation,” Tambago told SunStar Cebu. “Cebu swine remains safe from the disease and we are trying our best to protect our local industry. Our pork is safe to eat.”
On Monday, Feb. 3, Governor Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 4, Series of 2020, which prohibits the entry into the province of pork, boar semen, pork-related products and by-products from Region 11 until June 30, 2020.
The move is part of the Provincial Government’s intensified measures against the African swine fever (ASF).
The first confirmed cases of the hog disease in Mindanao came after samples drawn from around 1,000 dead pigs in Don Marcelino town, Davao Occidental, tested positive for ASF.
Reports said the pigs came from barangays Lindasan, North Lamidan, South Lamidan, Calian, Mabuhay, Lawa, Nueva Villa, and Baluntayan in the town.
“We are saddened by the ASF outbreak in Davao Occidental, but we are confident it will be contained within Region 11, considering a quick response by their LGU (local government unit) to arrest the problem,” he said.
“Here in Cebu, Governor Gwen has made a decisive action to protect the local swine industry by the immediate issuance of an EO to ban pork products from Region 11. It’s a great move by a leader,” Tambago added.
In light of the ASF outbreak in Davao, the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 urges local stakeholders to strengthen measures to protect the region from ASF.
DA 7 Director Salvador Diputado said they are scrutinizing products from ASF-hit areas and implementing measures to prevent its entry into the region. (JOB)