By Jen Baylon

The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said they will be issuing entry permits for hog shipments from areas classified as green zones due to African swine fever (ASF) amid the ban on pork and pork-related products in the province.

PVO officer-in-charge Dr. Placeda Lemana confirmed yesterday that live hogs will be allowed for entry, provided that they meet specific requirements and conditions.

Lemana said the livestock must undergo quarantine before being transported to Negros Occidental.

More than 600 hogs from areas declared as green zones, such as Bohol and Palawan, have been granted approval for entry to Bacolod.

No new shipments have entered the province so far, highlighting the effectiveness of the implemented measures.

More than 1,000 kilograms of pork from Panay Island have been brought to Bacolod since the entry ban was enforced late last year.

The measures have been crucial in preventing the spread of diseases among livestock, as Negros Occidental was affected by the outbreak of African swine fever last year.

Meanwhile, the PVO reported that pork prices in Negros Occidental dropped by around P20.

Lemana said the average local price of pork is already at P366 per kilo, while prices of liveweight pork dropped by P200 to P210 per kilo, from P230 per kilo.

She said the ban on pork from areas which recorded positive cases of African swine fever, such as Panay Island, Cebu and Bacolod, is still implemented in Negros Occidental.

Several confiscated pork items were returned to their origin during the Holy Week./JB, WDJ