Negros now bans pigs from Cebu

DUMAGUETE CITY – After Cebu province bans live hogs and pork products from Negros Island, now the provincial government of Negros Oriental also imposed a total ban on pigs, pork, and by products from Cebu province following the first reported African swine fever (ASF) case in Carcar City.

The ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. In its acute form the disease generally results in high mortality. ASF is a different disease to swine flu. The virus does not affect people and there is no impact on human health.

Ophelia Felisilda, chief operations officer of the Provincial Veterinary Office, said the total ban will be in effect for the next 45 days.

“(The late) Governor Degamo signed and issued the executive order on the total ban even before the news of the ASF cases in Carcar City came out, to prevent the swine industry in Negros Oriental from being affected by the animal disease,” she said.

The Bureau of Animal Industry confirmed the first ASF case in Carcar City after 58 of 149 pig blood samples tested positive last March 1. The BAI did not specify which of the two Negros provinces – Oriental or Occidental – the pigs came from.

Felisilda said Negros Oriental remains ASF-free based on reports submitted by 17 of the 25 local governments in the province. She said last month, the BAI also conducted a seminar-training on pig blood sampling for local governments, adding, her office has an animal diagnostic laboratory in which they can run blood samples for animal disease testing.

The local government of Carcar has sealed the slaughterhouse where the virus was detected. Despite the presence of ASF in Carcar City, the provincial veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy assured Cebuanos of enough pork supply in the province.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has also ordered biosecurity measures in seaports and airports by establishing strict border control and veterinary quarantine efforts, as well as cargo and passenger inspections in all ports of entry within the province.

“All livestock transport passes issued for livestock transport vehicles and refer vans from the Island of Negros are hereby revoked and cancelled until further notice,” she said.

She also ordered the mayors, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Cebu Port Authority, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, as well as airline companies and shipping lines to implement the executive order.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama also ordered the adoption of Bantay ASF in 80 villages here to strictly prohibit the entry of live hogs, pork, and pork products and by-products whether raw, processed or cooked, and all other meat, chicken, fish, or any other food products that are mixed with pork meat.

Dr. Jessica Maribujoc, head of the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, said their team is conducting an information drive in the villages. She said traders, producers, and importers need to secure documents of their live hogs, pork, and pork products. 

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson previously vowed to sustain the fight against the ASF and Bird Flu in an effort to protect the province’s multi-billion swine and poultry industry, and the livelihood of Negrenses.

“We’re very serious (with bird flu) as serious as we are with ASF. Anything that will threaten our livelihood, especially livestock. Whether it’s pork or chicken, we will continue to protect it. You must remember that losing this industry could have a very long-term effect on the province that we cannot afford,” Lacson said.

This was Lacson’s assurance after veterinary quarantine personnel disposed of some P1.4 million worth of undocumented eggs that entered Bredco port in Negros last month. The seized shipment of 240,000 pieces or 8,000 trays of eggs arrived on a delivery truck en route to Iloilo. (Mary Judaline Partlow, John Rey Saavedra and Nanette Guadalquiver)