Public hearing on proposed pork ban slated

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Monday said the provincial board’s Committee on Agriculture will hold a public hearing today, Nov. 19, 2019, on the proposed ordinance that  will prohibit the entry of live hogs and pork products in the province amid the African swine fever outbreak.

Based on a document signed by Provincial Secretary Maki-Angel Ascalon, the hearing will be headed by Board Member Andrew Montelibano.

Lacson agreed that there are some concerns that pork products from swine fever affected areas may be smuggled in the province, although he noted that some businesses based from Luzon are planning to source pork from Negros Occidental.

Last week, the governor revealed plans to extend the ongoing 90-day pork ban due to the worsening African swine fever problem in Luzon.

“As you can see, it is already spreading in Luzon and it’s no longer limited to the three [initial] provinces identified before,” he said.

Earlier, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said that several food chains in the province have stopped serving pork and pork products on their menu.

He said the said food chain firms are considering getting pork products from the province.