BACOLOD City – The provincial government of this province maintains to be at a “very high alert” in order to dodge the entry of the African swine fever (ASF) that still poses threat to Negros Occidental’s multi-billion hog industry.
The Provincial Task Force on ASF reviewed the memorandum order and other policies of safeguarding the swine industry here during the command conference held at the Provincial Veterinary Office on Feb. 17.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, co-chair of the task force, said on Feb. 18 that he underscored the importance of sustaining the preventive measures, particularly the inspection and monitoring of ports in the province.
“We assessed the capability of all assigned port and airport personnel, including their proper attire, courtesy in dealing with travelers, and knowledge on the disease,” Decena said.
He added that all orders issued by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, the task force chair, should be implemented.
This province declared a total ban on the entry of live pigs, pork, and pork-based products from Mindanao on Feb. 6 after the positive case of ASF in Davao Occidental caused the death of a thousand pigs.
Last week, the task force confiscated some P3.3 million worth of pork and pork-related food items being shipped to this province since September.
“Shipments from Mindanao pass through Dapitan, Dumaguete City, Kabankalan City and Bredco Port in Bacolod City going to Dumangas in Iloilo and Manila destinations,” Decena said.
“Although we do not source out pigs because we have surplus supply, we
still have to conduct disinfection procedures in ports,” he added.
Since September last year, the provincial government has been implementing
necessary measures and interventions to curb the ASF.
At that time, it imposed a 90-day ban on pork and related food products coming from Luzon.
In December, the ban came permanent through through the Provincial Ordinance 2019-024, or the ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental.(With a report from PNA/PN)
