Cebu City bans pork from Region 8 amid ASF threat

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered a ban on pork and pork products from Eastern Visayas due to the reported African Swine Fever (ASF) cases in the area.

Local authorities earlier confirmed that ASF has already reached Dulag, the fourth town to be infected in Leyte after Abuyog, La Paz, and Javier. Around 1,600 pigs have been culled to contain the spread of the disease.

Labella said he will issue an executive order with regard to the ban of pork products from Region 8.

According to the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs, warthogs, and boars.  Pigs infected with the ASF virus experience high fever, depression, loss of appetite, redness of ears, abdomen, and legs, vomiting, and diarrhea that may lead to death.

At present, there is no vaccine or treatment for ASF.

Because ASF can spread easily, hog raisers are advised not to feed raw or undercooked pork products (swill, garbage, or waste) to pigs. Also, they are told to monitor the animals daily for any sign of illness, to isolate those found to be sick, and to contact the veterinarian immediately for medical intervention.

Under the Food Safety Act, infected animals are unfit for consumption.

Labella also called upon the seaport officials, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), and Market Operations Division (MOD) to strictly enforce the regulations to protect the city against ASF.

He added those pork products coming from the “green zone” of Mindanao are still allowed, except those from the “red zone.”

‘Humba’ seized

The Department of Agriculture -7 is also advising the public not to bring live pigs, pork meat, cooked or fresh, and processed pork meat products from countries and areas with ASF cases to Central Visayas.

DA-7 director Salvador Diputado said these must be voluntarily surrendered to any designated official or to the Quarantine Office in seaport or airport here, otherwise they will be confiscated.

A doctor aired to The FREEMAN her gripe over the policy after her homemade humba from Cagayan de Oro was seized at the airport.

“Og kabalo pa lang ko nga i-confiscate lang, wa na lang unta ko nagpaluto. Kalami ra ba sa humba, gimingaw na ko kaon og humba. Og nganong gidawat man sad sa airline company nga declared man gyud nga humba ang shipment? Daghan mga tawo walay kaon ron unya ang akong humba ilabay ra to nila,” said the doctor.

Diputado explained that pork, including cooked humba, coming from Cagayan de Oro is part of the ban in Cebu.

Gwen’s clarification

Meanwhile, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia clarified yesterday that what is being barred is the shipment outside Cebu of live hogs, and not pork meat.

“Right now, kani akong gi-issue nga ban, nga dili na pwede pagawason ang buhi nga baboy, pwede man ang karne. I have not banned that (karne), that's a distinction. Kamong mga pumapalit sa Manila, palit mo og karne diri, dili pwede paliton ninyo ang buhi,” Garcia said.

Garcia issued Executive Order No. 8 banning the “export” of live hogs for six months starting last Feb. 1, 2021. According to her, the order seeks to avoid a situation where Cebu will be left with limited supply that may lead to increase in meat prices.

“Nia na ang namalitay og baboy gikan sa Luzon. Pamaliton na sad atong live hogs, unsay resulta ana? Nimahal sad ang baboy diri nato. Ngano man? Kay nimahal naman ilang palit didto sa backyard. Wa na nako gibawal kay maayo na pud tawon na sa mga nag-raise ning mga baboy,” Garcia said.

The Capitol is currently studying the sufficiency of pork supply in the province since according to the Central Visayas Pork Producers Cooperative, it can only produce 2,750 metric tons of pork every month. This is not enough to cater to the demand, which was pegged at 4,226 metric tons as of January.

“Kun hutdon na nato og palit ang live hogs, diri sa Cebu, runaway prices na pud ang presyo sa baboy nato, kita na sad ang walay supply,” Garcia said.

Consumers in many parts of the province have been lamenting on the escalating prices of pork meat in the markets. It was learned that in some markets, pork belly now costs P280 to P290 per kilo from the previous P220. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, and Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMD (FREEMAN)