CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has lifted the ban on the entry of pork and pork-related products, including those from Negros Occidental.

This was based on the executive order signed by the governor late Tuesday night, March 21.

Last week, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson wrote a letter to Garcia, urging her to reopen their province's borders to allow pork and pork-related products from the province bound for Eastern Visayas to pass through Cebu.

Hog raisers in Negros Occidental have sought the help of Lacson and the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), as hog raisers in the province could lose P18 million a week if Cebu continues its ban on the entry of hogs.

Garcia never replied to Lacson's appeal; however, the ban was lifted following a consultative meeting with Cebu-based hog raisers, as well as officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Health (DOH) in relation to the African swine fever (ASF).

During the meeting, however, Garcia questioned some of the policies being imposed by the national line agencies in dealing with ASF.

Cebu has been confirmed to have an ASF case that originated from Carcar.

The DA also confirmed that ASF had already been detected in other areas such as its capital Cebu City, Bogo City, and the towns of Liloan, Sibonga, and Tuburan.*