CEBU CITY — Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Tuesday ordered the implementation of strict border controls in Carcar City, south Cebu, following the detection of the highly-contagious African Swine Fever (ASF) in the locality.
In a press conference, Garcia said bringing live hogs, pork meat, and the famous Cebu lechon out of Carcar City is prohibited.
“For precautionary measures, we have immediately closed off the borders. I have prohibited the bringing out of live hogs and even pork,” she said.
Police and personnel from the provincial veterinarian will be stationed on at least seven access roads to Carcar City to check for pig and pork products.
“This is not an environment that we have total control of. But now that the challenge is here, it is how we shall answer that challenge, whether we will be able to contain it or will it spread to the other towns and cities of the province,” Garcia explained.
Cebu has been ASF-free for the past three years until the detection of infected hogs last March 1.
Carcar City is home to one of the top Cebu lechon products and the tasty chicharon. Tourists frequent the city for its lechon and chicharon delicacies.
The provincial government is also checking on neighboring local government units of Carcar to determine whether or not they also have hogs infected with ASF.
The tests conducted last March 1 showed at least 30 pigs in several barangays in Carcar City tested positive for ASF.
In a separate interview, Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas said 11 out of the 15 barangays were affected.
Garcia expanded the pork ban on the entire Negros Island as the provincial veterinary suspected the ASF-positive hogs in Carcar City might have come from Negros Oriental.
Next week, Garcia is set to meet with hog raisers from Carcar City and find ways for the provincial government to assist them.
Garcia said the pigs in infected areas needed to be culled to prevent the further spread of the virus.
“We will fight as we have always fought all other challenges we have faced. I repeat, it is important that we are upfront about it. We don’t try to hide it. Because when we hide it, it just causes more rumors,” Garcia said.
Cebu province is one of the biggest pork producers in the Philippines, with a pork industry valued at P11 billion.
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