August 14, 2023

Cebu, Philippines bans swine and pork products from neighbouring Bohol province

Cebu province in the Philippines has enacted a 60-day ban on the entry of live swine, sows, and pork-related goods originating from neighbouring Bohol province, after African swine fever (ASF) cases were detected there, ABS-CBN reported.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia's executive order cites the necessity for this ban due to the verified instances of ASF discovered in the municipality of Pilar, Bohol.

The ban extends its reach to encompass piglets, boars, livestock transport trucks, and reefer vans originating from Bohol. Its primary goal is to safeguard Cebu's thriving swine industry from the possible threat posed by ASF.

To ensure the strict enforcement of this new executive order, Governor Garcia has directed multiple government entities to take charge. The Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Cebu Port Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, and local mayors within the jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu have all been tasked with monitoring the implementation of the ban.

Meanwhile, the local government of Bohol has asserted that they have effectively managed to contain the infection. According to provincial veterinarian Stella Lapiz, extensive testing was conducted even beyond the radius of the affected hogs, all of which yielded negative results.

Lapiz said that only nine households with swine farms experienced culling of swine, a measure supported by the local government. She also highlighted the imposition of checkpoints and the reduction in the number of vulnerable animals as precautionary actions taken.

Bohol's swine industry holds a substantial value of PHP 6 billion (~US$106 million; PHP 10 = US$0.18), and the province had maintained an ASF-free status since 2019.

-      ABS-CBN