The Provincial Veterinary Office is keeping a close watch on Negros Occidental’s borders to prevent the entry of banned pork following an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Barangay West Balabag in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
Pigs and pork products from Negros Oriental are still banned from entering Negros Occidental as a safety precaution against ASF, Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian, said Friday, August 9.
An executive order issued by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson last year banning the entry live pigs, boar semen, pork and its related products from Negros Oriental and other ASF hit areas remains, she said.
Lemana said they conduct spot checks at the Masulog, La Castellana, border to prevent the entry of pigs and pork from Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
They especially keep a close watch during market days in Canlaon City, she also said.
There are also 24/7 checkpoints at the borders in Kabankalan City and Hinoba-an, Lemana said.
They also check supermarkets and markets to prevent the sale of banned pork products, she said.
Meanwhile, the price of pork in Negros Occidental has dropped by about 30 centavos per kilo this week, Lemana said.
Last week the average pork price was P323 per kilo and it is at about P322 this week, she said.
The lowest price was in Toboso at P270 a kilo and the highest was at Hinigaran at P380, Lemana said.*