DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Authorities seized an estimated P5.6 million worth of pork and pork byproducts at various points of entry in Negros Occidental from Jan. 1 to Dec. 27.
These products weighing about 32.641 tons were intercepted at the airport, seaports and other borders in the course of the provincial government’s campaign against the African swine fever (ASF), according to Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian.
Decena, who also co-chairs the Provincial ASF Task Force, presented on Monday his yearend report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
The task force, according to Decena, had been resolute in enforcing Provincial Ordinance 2019-024 or the ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental.
From Dec. 21 to 27 alone, the province’s quarantine team inspected a total of 4,214 incoming vehicles and refrigerated container vans.
December last year, the province imposed a permanent ban on the entry of pork from Luzon and other affected areas to the province through the ordinance.
In February, Lacson issued a memorandum to all the mayors to prohibit the entry of live pigs, pork products, and pork-based items from Mindanao.
Decena said all products allowed to enter Negros Occidental were properly inspected.
Entry points in Negros Occidental include seaports in the cities of San Carlos, Escalante, Sagay, Cadiz, Victorias as well as in Bredco and Barangay Banago in Bacolod City, and Pulupandan town, and the airport in Silay City.
The Provincial ASF Task Force also inspected 57 supermarkets, grocery stores, and online sellers of frozen meat products last week.
Decena said measures against the possible entry of the ASF-contaminated products were further intensified during the holiday season.
Negros Occidental has a current annual swine production of 510,000 heads from both backyard and commercial raisers. (With PNA/PN)
