Negros Occidental bars pork from ASF-hit areas

BACOLOD CITY — Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena has warned online sellers and travelers against bringing pork products into Negros Occidental because they will be confiscated and destroyed.

The Provincial African Swine Fever Task Force on Thursday burned  27.1 kilograms of assorted pork products worth P12,350 that arrived at the Bacolod Silay Airport, Decena said.

Negros Occidental is an ASF free province and has an ordinance against the entry of pork from ASF hit areas.

Decena said they have conducted test buys from online sellers and confiscated the entry of Korean meat products, and expensive hams brought in by travelers.

The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas  also announced that it is  monitoring online sellers to make sure the sources of their pork products are free from ASF.

Decena said they have to closely monitor of pork products to protect the  P6 billion swine industry of Negros Occidental.

He noted that 85 percent of the swine producers in the province are composed of about 15,000 backyard raisers who are now earning P160 per kilo on their live weight pork.

Decena said his office has been conducting veterinary missions in the 5th and 6th districts of Negros Occidental to  help revive  swine production in areas hit by Typhoon Odette.

/MUF