GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed Thursday, February 27, his attendance in a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang along with other governors and mayors relative to the concern on African Swine Fever (ASF).
Lacson added that Duterte will be signing Friday an Executive Order on ASF after the governors were firm on the lockdown they have declared to protect their respective provinces from ASF and take care of their backyard growers.
“We were one in telling the president that we’re just taking care of our backyard hog raisers as majority of our hog raisers are backyard,” Lacson said.
He revealed that all LGUs reported to the president of their respective ban of pork products from Luzon and recently from Mindanao.
“Duterte called us because of the recent development especially in Davao that have already been affected by ASF,” Lacson said.
He said that the president will sign an EO to make sure that every pig that comes out from the pigpen has been monitored and given the clearance to be traded or to be sold and he could put the blame on the traders or hog raisers that whoever is caught selling ASF affected pork will have them closed.
“We’re always taking the side of caution. So let’s just wait for the president’s EO,” Lacson said.
Lacson also said that ASF free provinces that are considered in Green Zone do not allow pork products to pass through their area which concerns the president.
“On the side of the president he said that let’s find a way and look for a solution because he doesn’t want that the trading of pork will be affected.” Lacson said.