BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental recorded a drop in the number of apprehensions or confiscations related to African Swine Fever (ASF).
PVO only confiscated a total of 79 kilograms of pork and pork byproducts valued at around P53,000 from Jan. 16 to 22, said PVO officer-in-charge (OIC), Dr. Placeda Lemana, yesterday.
Among those confiscated were three piglets, and all apprehensions were conducted at the BREDCO and Banago ports in Bacolod City and at the animal quarantine checkpoints in Kabankalan City and Hinoba-an town.
Aside from pork products, Lemana said they were also on guard against poultry products coming from other provinces.
Recently they confiscated around P74,00 worth of poultry products at the BREDCO port and in Kabankalan City.
Negros Occidental remains ASF- and bird flu-free; they are hoping it would stay that way, said Lemana.
Negros Occidental has a P6-billion swine industry, while the province’s poultry industry is pegged at P8 billion.
The entry of ASF and bird flu in the province will not only negatively impact the livelihood of the Negrenses but could also severely damage the province’s ability to produce food.
Negros Occidental is one of the top food producers and exporters in the Visayas./PN
