In a swift move to protect its local livestock industry and backyard hog raisers, the municipal government of La Castellana has officially implemented a temporary ban on the entry of all pork, pork products, and live swine originating from outside the municipality today, May 22.
The directive was formalized through Executive Order No. 026-045, Series of 2026, signed by Mayor Añejo G. Nicor taking effect immediately.
The measure was recommended by the Municipal Agriculture Office as a precautionary rule following reported livestock health concerns in neighboring local government units.
Nicor emphasized that the temporary ban is not a declaration of any active animal disease outbreak within La Castellana itself, but is strictly a preventative barrier to secure the community’s food supply and protect local livelihoods.
The prohibition strictly covers the following items when sourced from outside the municipality:
- Live swine or pigs
- Swine semen
- Fresh, chilled, frozen, processed, or cooked pork
- Pork-derived products including sausages, ham, bacon, tocino, longganisa, chicharon, offal, and meat.
Pork products that were already lawfully present, stored, or sold within the municipality on or before today, June 22, are exempted from the ban. However, local establishments and vendors must provide proof of local origin or prior possession upon request.
Multiple local agencies have been mobilized to implement strict monitoring at identified entry points, public markets, and slaughterhouses.
The multi-agency enforcement team includes the Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Philippine National Police, Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and Market officials, Local Hog Raisers Association, paraveterinarians, and barangay officials
Any individual or business found violating the order faces confiscation, quarantine, or return of the covered pork items, alongside legal penalties in accordance with applicable municipal ordinances and national laws., the executive order said.
The restriction will remain in place until officially amended or revoked. The Municipal Agriculture Office will continually assess local conditions, the mayor said .
The ban may be reviewed or lifted only when livestock mortality concerns in neighboring areas have significantly regressed or stabilized, and technical authorities determine that lifting the order poses no threat to local biosecurity, he added.*
