LUCENA CITY – The transport of hogs and pork meat outside of the island province of Marinduque has been temporarily prohibited to protect local swine industry and market during the coronavirus disaster (COVID-19) pandemic.
On Tuesday, Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. issued Executive Order 03-2021 ordering the temporary moratorium on outside shipment of hogs, pigs and/or pork meat “to address the possibility of food shortage and ensure adequate and sufficient supply of pork meat within the province of Marinduque during the period of pandemic and the wide disparity in market prices.”
“It is necessary to invoke the powers vested upon me to carry out such policy of ensuring food security for the entire province,” Velasco emphasized in his three-page order, copies of which were posted on his Facebook page also on Tuesday.
A copy of the three-page moratorium of Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr.
The prohibition order will last for three months, from Feb. 9 to May 8.
The order was an offshoot of the recent resolutions of Sangguniang Panlalawigan and similar decisions by local government units that requested the governor to immediately ban the transport of live hogs outside of the island, Velasco explained.
The order covers all sales, trading, export, shipment or transport of hogs, pigs, swine or pork meat from Marinduque to any area outside the province.
Velasco stressed that it is illegal for any local livestock grower or trader to engage in all similar activities.
Velasco warned that sanctions and penalties as provided by law will be imposed on violators.
The governor has tasked the Provincial Veterinary Office to implement measures that the livestock growers and/or owners of hogs, pigs and swines “shall not be prejudiced” by his order and that the local market shall have ample supply of pork meat and pigs.
Last week, Romblon Gov. Jose Riano also temporarily prohibited the transport of hogs outside of the island province for six months due to same reasons.
Prices of pork meat have soared as the local hog industry battles the spread of African swine fever (ASF), which has led to a shortage in supply.
On Feb. 1 President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 124, which imposes the price ceilings on pork and chicken meats in Metro Manila.
The ASF has disrupted the operations of hog farms in Batangas, Bulacan and nearby provinces, prompting hog raisers in the Visayas and Mindanao to supply Metro Manila.
The spread of the disease in the country since 2019, leading to the deaths of 4.5 million hogs, has not only tightened supply but also discouraged hog breeders to reinvest without any cure for the viral hog disease.