By April Therese Tan
Following reports of a suspected case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Province of Iloilo, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed an Executive Order (EO) banning the entry of live hogs, boar semen, pork, and pork-related products originating from Iloilo and Panay Island into the Province of Cebu starting 12:01 of October 14, 2022 for sixty days or until December 12, 2022.
The governor’s order also revokes all Livestock Transport Passes issued for livestock transport vehicles and reefer vans from lloilo and Panay until further notice.
As reported at Sugbo News, the official Facebook page of the Cebu Provincial government, all the mayors in Cebu Province, the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Cebu Ports Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, airline operators, and shipping line operators are also directed to strictly implement the said EO.
Barangay Animal Health Aides (BAHA) in Cebu will also be mobilized to assist their respective local government units in the disease-monitoring and reporting of animal mortalities.
Garcia stated in her EO that while the confirmation of the presence of the ASF in the Province of lloilo is still pending, she cannot risk the incursion of the disease in Cebu Province which will put the P11 billion-peso hog industry in Cebu Province in danger.