Despite ban, more pork products get intercepted in Negros Occ. ports

It seems like many continue to defy the ban on the entry of pork and pork products into the province.

The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental continues to intercept pork products in various ports even though there is a ban on the entry of pork and pork products coming from outside the province as a precaution against the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Based on data, the PVO’s ASF Task Force confiscated a total of 56.25 kilos of pork and pork products with an estimated value of P74,000, from November 21 to 27 alone.

The biggest apprehension was at BREDCO port in Bacolod City, where 50.5 kilos was seized, while the rest are from the Banago Port, San Carlos City Port, Bacolod-Silay Airport, and in Kabankalan City.

PVO officer-in-charge Dr. Placeda Lemana said, all of the confiscated pork products were immediately destroyed either by burrying or burning.

With the Christmas Season and the expected demand for pork products, especially Christmas ham, Lemana said they have not monitored any entry of Christmas ham coming from outside Negros Occidental, aside from Cebu province.

At present, only Negros Occidental and its neighboring provinces of Negros Oriental and Cebu are the only ASF-free areas in the Visayas.* (DGB)