• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria has found an ally in Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia by agreeing to sign on a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the delivery and distribution of hogs inside and outside their territories.
The MOA that will be signed in the next few days by both provinces would stipulate identical protocols and be stringent on biosecurity measures in facilitating the mobility of hogs and related products into their respective territories, by lifting the ban on hogs, according to a statement posted in the Negros Oriental provincial government website.
Sagarbarria met with Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia on June 29, to discuss the plea of hog raisers in Negros Oriental, as the African Swine Fever (ASF) has severely affected the economy, in terms of price of pork in the province.
He noted that the live weight of pork at the farm gate would range from P85-90/kilo to date.
Sagarbarria disclosed that Dauin town in Negros Oriental was arduously affected on the Bureau of Animal Industry’s culling policy when it implemented the 500-meter radius culling of pigs on ASF-affected areas.
Cebu province is one of the largest consumers and market for hogs and other related products of Negros Oriental.*
