ILOILO CITY –– Iloilo province has widened its ban on pork products, adding Eastern Visayas to areas where pork products are prohibited from entry due to reported African swine fever (ASF) cases.
In a four-page executive order issued on Feb. 13, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. also directed northern towns in the province Iloilo “to closely monitor the possible entry of swine, swine semen, pork, pork products and by-products from the Masbate area.”
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs that can destroy livestock production.
Defensor, in his executive order, cited reports of the Department of Agriculture on new cases of ASF in the towns of Abuyog, La Paz, and Javier in Leyte province and Barangay Luy-a in Aroroy town in Masbate province.
The province earlier implemented a ban on swine, pork products, and by-products from Luzon and Mindanao islands and those from Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Belgium, Bulgaria, Moldova, Czech Republic, South Africa, Zambia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, South Korea, and China.
Defensor also directed that all livestock transport carriers and livestock holding facilities undergo thorough disinfection and must have updated disinfection clearances signed by the livestock technician or any authorized personnel.
The coastal towns directed to closely monitor the possible entry of swine and pork products and by-products include Ajuy, Anilao, Balasan, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Dumangas, Estancia, and San Dionisio.
Western Visayas, which includes Iloilo, is among the top regions in hog production. In 2019, it was the fifth-biggest producer next to Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, and Central Visayas.