THE Provincial government of Negros Oriental has banned the entry of pork and pork products into the province to protect its swine industry.
Bimbo Miraflor, Provincial Information Office of Negros Oriental, said Governor Roel Degamo has issued an executive order banning the entry of pork and pork products from areas that has confirmed cases of African Swine Fever.
"We want to maintain Negros Oriental ASF free," Miraflor said.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena said last week that close monitoring is also done in all entry points in Negros Occidental against the entry of live pigs into the province.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson signed a memorandum last week to all local chief executives on banning the entry of hogs and pork products from Mindanao, following an outbreak of the African Swine Fever.
Lacson cited in his memorandum records and findings of the Provincial Veterinary Office that the African Swine Fever has spread over Mindanao region, particularly in Davao Occidental, where an estimated 1,000 hogs have already died.
He said the Department of Agriculture has no clear-cut and immediate measures to protect the nearby regions and provinces from being affected by swine fever.
He also stated such incidence of swine fever poses a great threat to the province, being one of the gateways of livestock and meat products to provinces in Panay and Luzon.
The imposed ban is also in pursuant to Provincial Ordinance 2019-024, otherwise known as the African Swine Fever Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental.