By Glazyl Masculino
BACOLOD CITY - The provincial government of Negros Occidental has banned the entry of live pigs, pork, pork products, and other related items coming from Region 11 or Davao region, following the reported case of African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Davao Occidental.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, in a memorandum order issued on Monday, directed all municipal and city mayors and the Provincial ASF Task Force to enforce the ban“by virtue of Provincial Ordinance No. 2019-024, known as ASF prevention ordinance of Negros Occidental.
Based on the memorandum order, local chief executives and the task force should conduct rigid and stringent screening and inspection of incoming shipments of live animals and pork products from Mindanao, and holding of checkpoints to intercept and control the movement of live animals, pork, pork products, and other related items entering the province.
Lacson, who is also the chairperson of the Provincial ASF Task Force, ordered them to ensure the “confiscation and condemnation of undocumented shipment of live animals, animal products and by-products to the province”.
“Conduct of mandatory and regular disinfection of transport carriers upon arrival at ports of entry and ensure proper disposal of food wastes from sea vessels must also be implemented,” he said.
He told them to ensure the implementation of the prevention measures in their respective areas of jurisdiction, and to report any cases of unusual mortalities among pigs within their area to ensure a prompt and immediate response.
“We are thankful it is not here in the Visayas, because of our measures taken in the past months,”Lacson said.
Last November, an ordinance for the permanent ban on the entry of pork from Luzon and other affected areas to the province was imposed to maintain its status as an ASF-free province.