By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said the province has remained free of the African swine fever (ASF), amid outbreaks recorded in other parts of the country.

During the province’s celebration of the formation of ASF task force, Lacson said up to now the province has been successful in preventing the entry of ASF, therefore securing the province’s pork supply and benefiting thousands of Negrense hog raisers.

Due to the province remaining ASF-free and with a stable supply of pork, Lacson said the province is again able to provide for the big markets in the country such as Metro Manila.

“You can really tell that the hog raisers are happy, the price is not too high, but it’s not too low either,” Lacson said.

Based on the report Lacson had obtained from provincial veterinarian, Dr. Renante Decena, there is currently a growing number of backyard growers who are fast becoming commercial growers.

He said the report shows that it is a good sign and that business is good which has increased their inventory so much to be considered as commercial raisers already.

The governor, however, said they must not be complacent as one mistake with the entry of ASF could be very difficult to control.

Lacson said he has ordered the ASF task forceto make sure that no pork products from outside the province enters, especially those already tagged by the Department of Agriculture as “red zones.”/DGB, WDJ