This, as the whole province including Bacolod City has imposed a ban for the entry of live pigs, pork meat and byproducts from Panay and Guimaras islands following the reported suspected case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Iloilo.
Lemana said the confiscated products included ground pork, pork tocino and pork molo.
“Our quarantine inspectors are alert and are strictly doing the inspection of all arriving goods through our ports and seaports. The shippers are willing to bring back the goods so most were returned to the sender in Iloilo,” Lemana said.
She said that the quarantine inspectors are augmented by the team from Bacolod City and are stationed at the Bredco Port, Banago Port and in Barangay Sum-ag.
” Our local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders in the swine industry are all vigilant that in case of any suspected animal diseases they immediately report to us,” Lemana added.
The provincial veterinarian also assured anew that Negros Occidental is surplus in terms of pork supply as well as of chicken.
” We are closely monitoring the supply and prices and we are in a stable situation so far,” she added.
Lemana also added that both Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have existing ordinances “to make sure that our area is ASF free.”*