Resolution seeks to form anti-swine fever task force

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Councilor Bart Orola, chairman of the City’ Council Committee on Markets, filed a resolution requesting the city government to form a task force against the African swine fever (ASF).

Orola said the task force is needed to ensure that the virus will not enter the city.

He also said that even if there are still no recorded ASF cases in the city or in the province of Negros Occidental, the city government needs to act in order to protect the local hog industry.

He also commented that the consumption of imported pork products cannot be avoided, as imported pork is currently sold cheaper compared to local pork.

Earlier, the provincial government of Negros Occidental formed a similar task force which aims to prevent the entry of swine fever in the province.

The task force led by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) had been placed on heightened alert earlier this week after the Department of Agriculture confirmed on Monday that hog samples taken from pig farms in Luzon tested positive for African swine fever.

The provincial government has since placed a temporary ban on the entry of pork products originating from Luzon.