By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Task Force African Swine Fever (ASF) of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported that they have seized a total of P42 million worth of pork products from various ports in the province last year.
PVO data revealed that the Task Force ASF confiscated 20,376 kilos of pork and 53,000 boxes of pork products with a total market value of P42,066,046.
PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana said the majority of the confiscations took place at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City, where most of the passengers and cargo traffic are coming in.
Lemana said most of the banned items were not confiscated and were instead returned to their points of origin.
She added that Negros Occidental remains free of ASF, although she reminded travelers that pork products remain banned, particularly from areas that have confirmed ASF cases.
P855-M in agri funds allocated
The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) has allocated a total of P855 million in funds to improve the agriculture sector in Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the allocated funds, with the largest allocation for the rice program, will assist farmers in their cultivation.
Around P410 million was allocated for farm-to-market road projects.
Lacson said he has asked for the list of areas to be covered by the funds to avoid duplicating provincial programs and to expand projects in the province.
The governor further revealed that DA-6 director Dennis Arpia will hold office in the province every month to oversee the projects that are to be implemented in Negros Occidental.
Lacson also pointed out that the province is trying its best to improve rice production from the current 4.5 tons per hectare.
It can be recalled that Lacson had set a target of six tons per hectare production on rice.
The DA’s funding could improve rice production.
Aside from rice, Negros Occidental is also studying the production of durian as part of its plans to revive and reintroduce interest in cultivation./DGB, WDJ