In Bohol, gov bars entry of pigs, pork from Panglao to mainland

STOP HERE The town police of Dauis, Bohol, set up this checkpoint on Saturday to ensure that hogs and pork products of the town will not cross to the province’s mainland as ordered by Gov. Aris Aumentado. LEO UDTOHAN

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado has prohibited the entry of hogs, pork and other related products from Panglao Island to the mainland province after three villages in Dauis town, one of the two local governments on the island, recorded cases of African swine fever (ASF).

Gov. Aris Aumentado said the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) reported at least 57 deaths of pigs that tested positive for ASF in the villages of Mayacabac, Biking and Mariveles on April 17.

While the samples would still undergo confirmatory tests, the governor issued Executive Order No. (EO) 13 on April 20 that would ensure that no hogs and pork from Panglao Island, which comprises the towns of Dauis and Panglao, could enter the mainland.

The EO 13 said the ban would last for 30 days or from April 18 until May 18, the fiesta season of the province.

Worrisome

Several round-the-clock checkpoints were put in place at the border of Dauis since Friday night to ensure no hogs or pork and related products could enter Tagbilaran City, which is linked to Panglao Island by a shallow sea channel.

According to Aumentado, the effect of ASF was “very worrying” because it could affect the province’s P6-billion hog industry if the disease could not be contained in Dauis.

“We should be worried if the ASF will spread out because our hog industry in Bohol will be affected, not only the big ones, but also our small-time backyard hog raisers, “ said Aumentado.

At least 48,000 Boholanos are into backyard hog raising, officials said.

“We are asking people to understand why we are doing this. If it will not be contained, it’s going to spread out to other towns then the more it’s going to be difficult to contain it,” he said.

Aumentado assured there was enough supply of pigs in Bohol when towns will be celebrating their fiestas in May.

The “strict observance of disease prevention and relevant control measures will increase the volume of production, improve the safety and quality, and enhance the value of livestock commodities resulting in overall sustainability and food security,” he said.

Bohol has been free from the ASF since 2019 until the detection of infected hogs in Pilar town in 2023.