Guimaras mayor wants swine entry permit waived amid ASF threat

ILOILO CITY — The mayor of Jordan town in Guimaras has asked the municipal council to temporarily waive the P100 swine entry permit fee to encourage compliance with African Swine Fever (ASF) control measures and ease the financial burden on hog raisers, traders, and transporters.

In a letter dated July 6 addressed to the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) through Vice Mayor Anna Philippa Nava, Mayor John Edward Gando requested the passage of an ordinance suspending the collection of the swine entry permit fee provided under the municipality’s Revised Revenue Code of 2025 for the duration of the ASF threat.

READ: Capiz bans entry of pigs, pork from Iloilo, Negros over ASF concerns

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Gando said the proposed waiver would remove a financial disincentive that could discourage livestock owners, traders and transporters from securing the required permits, thereby strengthening efforts to prevent the entry and spread of ASF in Jordan.

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He noted that only the collection of the fee would be suspended and that all documentary requirements, biosecurity protocols and regulatory conditions for the issuance of swine entry permits would remain in full force.

In a separate statement, Gando explained that the municipality cannot suspend the fee by an executive action alone because it is mandated under an ordinance.

He said Sangguniang Bayan Floor Leader Gerry Gaitan assured him that the proposal would be taken up during the council’s regular session on Wednesday.

The mayor also directed Municipal Agriculturist Tess Gallego to study the feasibility of issuing swine entry permits directly at the municipality’s border control checkpoints, eliminating the need for traders to travel to the municipal hall to secure the documents.

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“We understand your situation,” Gando said in a message addressed to hog raisers and pork traders. “I sincerely pray that together we will overcome this challenge.”

READ: More LGUs in Negros boost ASF biosecurity

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Jordan is among the local government units enforcing heightened biosecurity measures to keep ASF from entering its jurisdiction. The proposed temporary fee waiver is intended to boost compliance with permit requirements while providing relief to stakeholders affected by disease control measures./coa

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