Strict biosecurity in province big help to hog raisers

Hog raisers in Negros Occidental are reaping the benefits of strict biosecurity measures enforced by the provincial government especially against the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, provincial administrator, said that hog raisers in the province are happy that despite the ban imposed by the Cebu provincial government on the entry of hogs and pig products, they found a market in other areas of the country.

While the prices are a bit lower compared to that of Cebu and in Eastern Visayas, he said the hog raisers are slowly finding markets in Metro Manila and Luzon.

“Negros Occidental is now a major supplier of products in the National Capital Region (NCR),” he pointed out.

He said the provincial government will continue to exert efforts to maintain the province’s ASF-free status so that it can continue to feed the province, the region and the country.

Diaz said Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia has not yet replied to the request of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to allow the passage of hogs and pork products from the province to Eastern Visayas.

ASF virus has been detected in Cebu City and four other areas in Cebu province, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) reported.

BAI said the towns of Liloan, Tuburan, Sibonga and Bogo City have also reported ASF cases.

Cebu province in Central Visayas, and neighboring Negros Occidental and Bacolod City in Western Visayas have all banned the entry of pork products after blood samples from Carcar City showed positive results for ASF.

Cebu imposed a ban on shipments of pork and pork products from Negros Occidental on March 6 until April 5, based on Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia’s Executive Order No. 9 series of 2023.

Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson and Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez signed their joint executive order on March 7, banning the entry of pork and pork products from Cebu.* (EYA)