Dr. Placeda Lemana, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), reported that from October 15 to 19, the pork and pork products intercepted by the Provincial ASF Task Force already reached 666.5 kilograms.
Lamena said these came from Iloilo, Manila and Cebu and were intercepted at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City, New Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, as well as in San Carlos City and Escalante City ports.
The stricter biosecurity measures in the province came after a suspected incident of African Swine Fever (ASF) was reported in Iloilo.
In a memorandum, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier imposed a ban on the entry of live pigs and pork products from the neighboring Panay and Guimaras Islands.
The governor stressed that he wants to protect the province’s P6-billion hog industry.
“We assure [the public] that, here in Negros Occidental, our swine industry is still ASF-free,” Lemena said.*