BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The city government of Victorias in Negros Occidental also put up two quarantine stations to further boost the campaign of the provincial government and highly urbanized Bacolod City, to protect the province’s P6 billion hog industry from the dreaded African Swine Fever that was already detected in five towns of the neighboring province of Iloilo.
In statement issued by the Victorias City Veterinary Office, the two quarantine stations located in Brgys. 6A and 9, are being manned by the local ASF task force, augmented by personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as Bantay Dagat personnel.
“The stations serve as checkpoints for all inbound fishing vessels in preventing live pigs, pork, and its by-products from entering all ports of entry in Victorias City,” the statement said.
Quarantine stations have also been established in other ports of entry across the province, including the capital city, serving as checkpoints to intercept and control the movement of live animals, pork, pork products, and other related items entering Negros Occidental.
Negros Occidental and highly urbanized Bacolod City banned the entry of live pigs and pork related products from Panay and Guimaras, following the detection of ASF cases in Iloilo.
In October, Governor Eugenio Lacson ordered all local chief executives in the province of the ban and directed them to ensure the implementation of preventive and safeguard measures embodied in the “ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental”.
Despite ASF threats, Negros Occidental remains ASF-free, as of this time, according to the Provincial Veterinary Office.*
