Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday confirmed attending a meeting of governors and mayors with President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañan Palace regarding concerns surrounding African swine fever.
“Duterte called us because of the recent development, especially in Davao, that have already been affected by swine fever,” the governor explained. “We were one in telling the president that we’re just taking care of our backyard hog raisers – the majority of our hog raisers.”
He said the president will be signing an executive order today ensuring every pig is monitored and cleared before being traded or sold.
“We’re always taking the side of caution,” Lacson added.
Earlier this month, the Bacolod City Task Force African Swine Fever held a meeting at the Bacolod City Government Center.
The meeting, which was presided over by task force vice chair, Atty. Goldwyn Nifras, who serves as city agriculturalist, saw two resolutions passed, one banning pork and pork products from Mindanao and the other calling on transport companies to provide footbaths for incoming passengers.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City government earlier banned the entry of live pigs, hog carcasses, and pork products from the Davao Region. This latest ban is in addition to the existing ban on pork products from Luzon, which was enacted last October.
“Iloilo City remains African swine fever-free,” stressed city veterinarian, Dr. Tomas Forteza, Jr./DGB, WDJ