Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, March 4, that he will sit down with local government unit officials to discuss the putting up of checkpoints to prevent the entry of pigs and pork products from African swine fever (ASF) red zones into Negros Occidental.
The governor has banned the entry of pigs and pork products from various areas, including Bacolod City and Negros Oriental.
Lacson said he has not gotten the commitment of the Negros Occidental LGUs on the checkpoints yet.
“They have to understand that we are trying to save the hog industry in their respective areas,” he said.
The governor cited the need for checkpoints at the Kabankalan City, San Carlos City and Hinoba-an borders with Negros Oriental.
Lacson noted that Bago City has set up a checkpoint at its borders with Bacolod City, and said he hopes Talisay City and Murcia would take similar precautions.
Hog cholera and ASF killed about 18,000 pigs in Negros Occidental last year.*