• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The ban on the entry of hogs and pork into Negros Occidental, from areas affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) remains in effect while hog repopulation in the province is ongoing, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Placeda Lemana disclosed yesterday.
Aside from highly urbanized Bacolod City, other areas covered by the entry ban are Negros Oriental, the islands of Panay, Guimaras, Bantayan, and Camotes, Cebu province, Region 8, Mindanao, Luzon, and other countries affected with ASF, as may be declared by the DA.
Exempted from the ban are processed pork products that are fully cooked such as ham, sausages, hotdogs, canned goods, pork chicharon, pork-based seasonings, and the like, provided they are sourced from meat establishments with Certificate of Compliance from the ASF Public-Private Audit.
“We want the province to fully recover from ASF,” stressed Lemana, who assisted Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano, in the distribution of 10 motorcycles to PVO personnel, hogs and cattle raisers to recipients that included former rebels being helped by the 94th Infantry Battalion, amounting to P2.3 million, at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.
Lemana said hog raisers continue to ship pigs outside the province, with Panay Island as among their markets.
In December last year, she recalled that about 3,000 hogs were sold outside of Negros Occidental, with some being used as breeders.
Meanwhile, former rebel known only as Ka Aya, vice president of the Camingawan Diversified Workers Association (CDWA) yesterday thanked the provincial government of Negros Occidental, under the leadership of Gov. Lacson, for the support in terms of livelihood opportunities.
CDWA, an organization composed of 150 former rebels, is being assisted by the 94IB in their integration into mainstream society.
Ka Aya, a former political officer of the New People’s Army in southern Negros, who had surrendered to the 94IB, expressed her gratitude to Lacson, for giving them a chance to start a new life by providing them livelihood assistance, among others.
Lt. Col. Siegfred Tayaban, 94IB commander, also hailed the efforts of the Negros Occidental provincial government in helping former rebels.*
