By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said the entry of pork products in the province remains banned.

PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana reminded Negrenses, especially those who are already planning to return home to the province and wish to bring pork-related products for the upcoming yuletide season, that the pork ban is still in place.

The ban was imposed earlier this year after Negros Occidental’s swine industry suffered a massive hit due to hog cholera and African swine fever (ASF).

No more ASF cases were recorded following a reported case in La Castellana town last month.

With hog mortalities now under control, the PVO and local hog raisers are working to prevent another outbreak of hog diseases through their sentinel program.

As the pork consumption is expected to increase next month, Lemana assured the consumers that the supply of pork in the province will remain stable.

Pork prices in some parts of the province rose to P320 per kilogram, P5 to P15 higher compared to the prices last week.

Lemana explained that the increase is the result of high liveweight pork prices and other costs.

Some local raisers, particularly from La Carlota City, are now able to ship out their hogs to neighboring provinces./DGB, WDJ