An estimated P18 million worth of hogs and frozen food being shipped from Negros Occidental to various areas in Visayas and Mindanao, are affected weekly, due to the African Swine Fever ban issued by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, disclosed by Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana.
As of this time, Lemana said that the provincial government of Negros Occidental is still awaiting the reply of Gov. Garcia to the request of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, to lift the banning of the entry of live hogs and pork related products from the province to Cebu, or even just allow the passage of such products en route to Leyte.
Contrary to the claims of Cebu, Lemana pointed out that Negros Occidental remains ASF free.
Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have also banned the entry of live pigs and pork related products from Cebu, after the confirmed detection of ASF cases in Carcar City.
While awaiting the reply of Cebu, Lemana said commercial hog raisers in Negros Occidental have to use the Dipolog route in Mindanao, when shipping hogs to Leyte, which means added transportation expenses.
She also reported that there were an estimated P14 million in unfulfilled contracts to supply hogs to Bohol and Leyte, due to the Cebu ban.
On the other hand, the Lapu-Lapu City government in Cebu is considering not including Negros Occidental in the ban on live hogs and pork products, Mayor Junard Chan said.
This was after the Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office recorded a case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Carcar City, from a swine that allegedly came from Negros Oriental.
Chan had earlier issued an executive order which temporarily banned the entry of live hogs and pork products from Carcar City and Negros Island.
(Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
