Cebu governor to extend ban on pork from Iloilo, Panay due to ASF

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has said she will extend the temporary ban on the entry of pork, hogs, and other pork-related products from Iloilo and Panay due to the failure of authorities to contain the African Swine Fever (ASF).

“What we should be afraid about really is the ASF. Right now, of the 81 provinces in the entire country, 62 provinces are already infected with ASF. They have not been able to control the ASF spread in Panay [and] Iloilo,” Garcia said in an interview shared on the Facebook page of the Cebu provincial government on Wednesday.

“I will extend it (pork ban). We were trying to study ba kung macontain ba, wala. They have not contained it,” she added.

On October 13, Garcia ordered a temporary ban on pork and pork products from the province of Iloilo and Panay island for a period of 60 days due to a suspected ASF case.

The governor said she also asked the airlines and authorities to keep reminding passengers that they cannot bring any pork-related products in Cebu province.

“I have asked again the airlines, as well as the authorities sa airport to keep repeating the warning that is contained under my executive order they cannot bring in [pork] domestic from Manila, Davao, from wherever, they cannot bring in any pork and pork-related products,” she said.

“But, I have asked the airline to announce it while the passengers are still on board,” she added.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas to test all pig breeding sites in the area to control the spread of the ASF.

Marcos' directive came after DA-Western Visayas disclosed during a situation briefing in Bacolod City that cases of ASF have been reported in the area, particularly in Iloilo.

A press release from the Office of the Press Secretary stated that Marcos has ensured that all measures are in place to prevent the spread of ASF, including banning pork products from affected areas.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA Integrated News