Bacolod fortifies borders vs ASF

Up to 13 checkpoints will be established at boundaries in Bacolod City as a preventive measure against African Swine Fever (ASF).

The city will also set up checkpoints at ports, as well as at the Bacolod Silay Airport, to ensure that no meat products from areas with confirmed cases of ASF can enter the LGU.

All meat products confiscated at the checkpoints will be buried immediately.

“Imported frozen good, local and imported bawal ‘yan, especially from red zones,” said Dr. Janine Sarthou, Assistant City Veterinarian of Bacolod City.

At the ‘lechonan country’ on Araneta Street in Bacolod, vendors assured the pigs they roast are free of diseases.

“Ang baboy malalaman mo kasi nanghihina na. Bago pumasok sa stockyard, hindi na pinapapasok sa stockyard ang mga baboy na may sakit,” said Recas Acebuche, a business owner.

Another business owner, Loreto Toledo, said they buy only a limited number of pigs, around three or four of them.

“Pare-pareho lang naman ang binibili namin. Bawat may-ari, merong tatlo o apat (na baboy). Hindi kami bumibili sa maramihan,” he said.

Despite the threat of ASF, the price of a whole roasted pig remains the same - P8,000 to P15,000, as of this writing, depending on the weight.

A customer, Phoebe, said they are not worried because of the safeguards in place. Besides, she said, having roasted pig or lechon is already part of the Filipino tradition during celebrations.

“So far, hindi naman kinakabahan kasi under control naman. Pilipino tayo, tradisyon natin ito. Kung any celebration, kailangan may lechon,” she said.

Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of the Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Division of the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office, has said that strict biosecurity measures are the number one weapon against the spread of ASF.

“Number 1 talaga nating weapon is ang strict na biosecurity measures sa ating mga respective farm. And also nag-distribute naman ang Provincial Vet Office ng mga disinfectants to aid sa ating mga raisers,” he said.

Data from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed that up to 1,213 pigs have died in Negros Occidental from May to June 22, 2026.

The PVO shared the data after the province confirmed cases of ASF.

In the town of San Enrique, at least 500 pigs from 10 barangays died from the disease. —GMA Regional TV