• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Negros Oriental Governor Chaco Sagarbarria thanked Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro for lifting the ban on the entry into the province of swine and its by-products.
“Daghang salamat Gov. Pam!” Sagarbarria posted July 4 in reaction to a Capitol PIO announcement that Cebu is now open to hog traders.
This as the capital Dumaguete City, as well as Amlan, Bacong, Basay, Bayawan, Bindoy, Dauin, Pamplona, Siaton, Sibulan, Tanjay, and Zamboanguita, all in Negros Oriental, are still under the African swine fever (ASF) red, or infected zone, as of the latest zoning status released by the Bureau of Animal Industry June 27.
Baricuatro’s decision to lift the pork ban aims to halt the increasing prices of pork products in the market, adding she hopes that the increase in the supply of hogs would bring down the prices.
She signed three orders that took effect July 3, including lifting the restrictions on the entry of livestock meat and pork by-products from surrounding provinces into Cebu, subject to regulatory compliance and biosecurity measures;
An order lifting the requirement for livestock transport passes for the movement of livestock into and within the province; and the mandatory downtime period for livestock transport carriers, subject to compliance to biosecurity and sanitation measures.
Provincial veterinarian, Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy, said in a Capitol press release recently that livestock stakeholders had lobbied for the lifting of the restrictions, claiming these have adverse effects on the hog industry.
“As to the ASF situation…we are actually in low risk but we continue to do our surveillance and monitoring for the whole hog industry,” Vincoy said.
In 2023, then Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia banned the entry of live pigs, pork, and related products, and revoked all passes issued for livestock transport vehicles and reefer vans from Negros Island. | CGC
