The Negros Occidental watch of all points of entry to prevent the resurgence of African swine fever resulted in 41 pigs intercepted in Escalante City on Monday, August 12, Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, said Wednesday.
The pigs that arrived on pumpboats were intercepted by Barangay Rizal, Escalante, officials as they had no documents indicating where they came from, she said.
Although there is a possibility that the pigs came from Cebu, Lemana added.
The Negros Occidental provincial government has an existing ban on the entry of pigs and pork products from ASF hit areas, including Cebu.
Lemana said the persons who brought in the 41 pigs claimed they came from Molocaboc in Sagay City.
However, the Molocaboc barangay captain said he had not issued a clearance for shipment of pigs, which means they did not come from his village, she said.
One pig died and the 40 others were loaded on three pumpboats with orders that they be returned to their point of origin, Lemana said.
Twelve pigs, suspected to be part of the 40, were intercepted in Calatrava at noon Tuesday, she said.
They were confiscated, terminated and buried properly, she said.
She said barangay captains provincewide have been on alert to prevent the entry of pigs and other products of dubious origin into Negros Occidental through their shorelines as a precaution against ASF .
“We cannot take a risk because Negros Occidental is already recovering from ASF”, Lemana said.*