- GILBERT BAYORAN
Members of the local African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force seized five kilos of raw pork from Panay Island at a wake in Sitio Panaosawon, Brgy. Tuburan, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, Oct. 25.
The raw pork, which was immediately burned, originated from Brgy. Daan Banwa in the town of Tapaz in Capiz, said Tuburan barangay captain Ramonito Espacio Jr.
Negros Occidental and the highly-urbanized Bacolod City have banned the entry of pigs and pork-related products from Panay and Guimaras Islands effective Oct. 14, following the detection of an ASF case in Oton, Iloilo.
Espacio said they were assisted by OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Efren Garcia Jr., Municipal Agriculturist Office staff, and the PVO staff, when they seized and burned the meat, also in the sitio.
The woman, who hand-carried the meat, is visiting the wake of her relative in Sitio Panaosawon.
The discovery of the raw meat from Panay was made after Espacio visited the wake to deliver funeral assistance, and the family offered to grill pork for him.
Espacio immediately reported the matter to Mayor Marvin Malacon, as well as to the Municipal Agriculturist Office, and the PVO./GB
