- GILBERT BAYORAN
The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas reported a “tremendous increase” in the volume of incoming processed meat products from neighboring regions and provinces into the region, and stressed that the African swine fever virus can thrive through processed and frozen meat.
In an advisory, DA Western Visayas enjoined local government units in the region to strengthen their precautionary measures against the possible entry of ASF virus through frozen meat products.
It also alerted all cities and towns in Negros Occidental, especially the coastal areas, to further strengthen border checkpoints against pork and pork byproducts coming from neighboring ASF affected regions, or islands.
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City last week banned the entry of all pigs and pork products from the neighboring Cebu province, including Bantayan Island and Camotes Island, following the detection of ASF cases in Carcar City, Cebu.
The restriction came after Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered a ban on the entry of live hogs, sows, piglets, boar semen, pork, and pork-related products from Negros Island until April 5.
Aside from Cebu, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have an ongoing total ban in the entry of all live pigs, boar semen, pork, pork products, and other pork-related items into the province from the entire Luzon, Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Panay Island, and Guimaras Island.
Negros Occidental, which has a P6 billion hog industry, is listed as a dark green zone or ASF-free by the Department of Agriculture, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said./GB
