(PNA file photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – The town of Argao in the south and the city of Danao in the north on Friday issued an order temporarily suspending entry of live hogs, pork and pork products in their locality due to the confirmed presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in Carcar City.
Argao Mayor Alan Sesaldo and Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark Durano issued executive orders to protect their locality’s hog industry from ASF virus infection.
Sesaldo ordered the ban of entry of pork meat and their products from Carcar City declared as “red zone” where the infection had been detected on March 1, including those that are coming from the buffer (pink) zone.
“There shall be a temporary ban to transport into the Municipality of Argao live hogs, piglets, sows, boar semen, pork, and pork by-products in whatever quantity which may be sourced from municipalities and cities in the Province of Cebu declared to be in red and pink zones for a period of 30 days,” Sesaldo said in his order.
According to him, live pigs will only be allowed entry if the trader can present a veterinary health certificate and meat inspection certificate (MIC) for locally produced pork and pork products.
Processors of cooked pork and other pork-related products are required to obtain a license to operate (LTO) from the Food and Drug Administration, he added.
Drivers of livestock vehicles are also required to get an accreditation registration from the Provincial Capitol.
The local ASF task force, Sesado said, is now conducting an inspection of identified points of entry and ports in Argao to restrict the movement of live hogs, pork, and pork products and will allow only well-documented “passing by livestock vehicles.”
In Danao City, Durano issued EO 20 to impose a temporary ban on the entry of live hogs, piglets, sows, boar semen, pork, and pork by-products originating from Negros Oriental province and Carcar City.
Durano said the city will only allow entry if the traders can present proper documentation.
Argao is known for an internationally-recognized hog breeding farm. While there is no known piggery in Danao City, the gateway to the Camotes island group in Cebu's eastern seaboard. (PNA)
