42 NegOr pigs turned away from Cebu port amid swine fever watch

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Authorities returned 42 live pigs to Negros Oriental after intercepting them at Tangil Wharf in Dumanjug, southwestern Cebu.

Shipping the pigs violated Cebu Province’s 45-day temporary ban on the entry of hogs from areas affected by African Swine Fever (ASF), said Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, July 10, Vincoy said the pigs came from Ayungon, Negros Oriental, and were transported by a commercial vessel through Guihulngan Port before arriving at Tangil Wharf in Dumanjug early Thursday morning on July 9.

Members of the local ASF Task Force intercepted the shipment.

READ: Cebu activates ASF task forces to protect ₱20B hog industry

“Yesterday there was a return -o-origin incident. Naay gipaship-back… there were 42 growers—mga baboy nga giship-back to Negros Oriental kay nisulod gyud siya despite the ban,” Vincoy said.

(Yesterday, there was a return-to-origin incident. Forty-two pigs were sent back to Negros Oriental because they entered despite the temporary ban.)

She said the Dumanjug local government’s ASF Task Force immediately coordinated with the Provincial Veterinary Office after detecting the shipment.

“We are very thankful sa LGU Dumanjug kay naa ilang task force didto man nagbantay. They immediately coordinated to us, and then gipaship-back to,” she said.

(We are very thankful to the Dumanjug LGU because its task force was monitoring the area. They immediately coordinated with us, and the shipment was returned.)

Temporary ban strictly enforced

Vincoy clarified that the shipment was not intercepted because of incomplete documents but because Executive Order No. 39 imposes a temporary ban on the entry of live pigs from ASF-affected areas.

“Ang Executive Order No. 39 is not about the document, it’s actually the temporary ban. So, whether there’s a document or not, the fact nga it’s closed, it’s closed,” she said.

(Executive Order No. 39 is not about the documents. It is about the temporary ban. Whether there are documents or not, the province remains closed to the entry of pigs covered by the order.)

She added that the shipment arrived early in the morning aboard a large vessel.

No pork shortage

Despite the temporary ban, Vincoy assured the public that Cebu has an ample supply of pork.

READ: Cebu bans hogs, pork products from ASF-hit areas

“There’s a lot of baboy sa Cebu karon. Last week, the group of hog raisers, both commercial and the backyard raisers, they asked the assistance of the provincial governor. They proposed measures nga makatabang pud sa mga namuhi og baboy, nga matabangan sila how they can market, how they can be protected with the imported meat, and how they can be of help, labi na karon nga naay threat with the African Swine Fever. Na-discuss to siya,” she said.

(There is plenty of pork in Cebu. Last week, commercial and backyard hog raisers sought the governor’s assistance and proposed measures to help them market their hogs, protect them from imported meat, and address the threat posed by African Swine Fever.)

Round-the-clock monitoring

Vincoy said authorities continue to enforce round-the-clock monitoring at ports with the help of local government units and law enforcement agencies.

“Yes, it remains to be in effect, and the law enforcement agency like mga Philippine Coast Guard, PNP.” she said.

“During this time, the enforcement really is focused on the local government unit, that’s why ang Executive Order No. 36 focused on the activation of the local ASF task force. When you say local, munisipyo og syudad nga ilang task force. And i-follow up lang to ang enforcement sa LGU when Governor Pam issued Executive Order No. 39.”

(Yes, the monitoring remains in effect, and law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police are also covered by the Executive Order. Enforcement is focused on local government units through their municipal and city ASF task forces, with Executive Order No. 39 reinforcing the implementation issued by Governor Pam Baricuatro.)

Cebu Province earlier issued Executive Orders Nos. 36 and 39 to protect its ASF-free status.

Executive Order No. 39 imposes a 45-day temporary ban on the entry of live hogs and pork products from Negros Island and other ASF-affected areas. Meanwhile, Executive Order No. 36 directs cities and municipalities to activate their local ASF Task Forces and strengthen border monitoring, disease surveillance, and enforcement.

The Provincial Veterinary Office continues to monitor ports and coordinate with local government units to prevent the entry of potentially infected animals and safeguard Cebu’s estimated ₱20-billion hog industry.

READ: Over 500 pigs dead as new ASF outbreak reported in Negros Occ.

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