• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Oriental has opened its borders to hog raisers in a bid to revive its struggling swine industry.
Governor Manuel Sagarbarria has issued Executive Order No. 10 dated Feb. 21, which lifted the ban on the transport and movement of live pigs, pork products and its by-products into Negros Oriental.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Sagarbarria, who expressed optimism on the positive impact of lifting the ban, said that reopening the province’s border to hog raisers will create opportunities for businesses to flourish and contribute to a cost-effective market economy in Negros Oriental.
The outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) led to the culling of more 300,000 pigs nationwide, causing a sharp 20.8 percent decline in pork production growth.
Sagarbarria said that the repercussions were felt not only by hog raisers, but also by consumers as pork prices soared due to the imbalance in supply and demand.
In Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday that they will continue to ban the entry of live pigs and pork products into the province.
“We will continue to follow our policy, and to be strict, especially for areas color-coded as red,” Lacson said.
Since September last year, the Provincial Veterinary Office has not recorded hog mortalities either due to ASF or hog cholera.
The provincial government of Negros Occidental has started distributing the P10 million worth of financial assistance to affected hog farmers.
In 2023, some 17,766 pigs have died in Negros Occidental, with an estimated loss value of almost P200 million, affecting 4,259 raisers from 153 barangays in 20 local government units. | GB
