ASF CHECKPOINT. An animal quarantine checkpoint in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental in this photo on Tuesday (Aug. 13, 2024). “The border control operation continues. Our quarantine inspectors have been instructed to heighten alert due to new African swine fever cases in Valencia, Negros Oriental,” Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, said. (Photo courtesy of PVO-Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) here continues to tighten border controls across Negros Occidental to prevent the entry of live pigs, pork and pork by-products, following the resurgence of African swine fever (ASF) cases in Negros Oriental and in some areas in Batangas.
As of Tuesday, personnel of local ASF task forces are keeping a round-the-clock watch in ports of Bredco in this city as well as in other seaports in the province.
“The border control operation continues. Our quarantine inspectors have been instructed to heighten alert due to new ASF cases in Valencia, Negros Oriental,” Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, said in an interview on Tuesday.
She said quarantine checkpoints in the borders of Kabankalan City and Hinoba-an town are also operating 24/7.
Additional border checkpoints for spot inspection were also set up between La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, as well as between Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, and Tayasan, Negros Oriental.
Spot inspection also continues in checkpoints at the boundaries of Murcia, Talisay City, and Bago City with Bacolod City, which lifted the pork ban earlier this year.
“Most of the intercepted products are in volumes intended to be sold in markets,” Lemana said, adding these are either being shipped back to the place of origin or destroyed by authorized personnel.
The PVO chief said local ASF task forces are also actively conducting spot inspections in meat stalls and supermarkets like those in the cities of Sagay, Cadiz, and San Carlos.
In February this year, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an executive order prohibiting the entry of live pigs, pork, and other pork-related food items from Bacolod City and Negros Oriental.
The ban also covers Luzon, Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Panay Island, Guimaras Island, Cebu province (including Camotes Island and Bantayan Island), and other countries affected by ASF as may be declared by the Department of Agriculture.
Last year, Negros Occidental, which has a PHP6-billion swine industry, recorded almost 18,000 hog mortalities in about 20 local government units, mainly due to ASF and hog cholera. (PNA)
