Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Tuesday issued an order temporarily banning the entry of live hogs and pork from Bohol province after the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Pilar town.

In her order, Garcia said pigs, sows, piglets, and boar semen as well as pork and pork-related products from Bohol are not allowed to enter Cebu province for a period of 60 days or until Oct. 7, 2023.

“Livestock transport trucks and reefer vans from the province of Bohol, which were issued Cebu Provincial Livestock Transport Passes, in order to carry live hogs and pork-meat products, are banned from entering Cebu for the same period,” Executive Order No. 21 said.

With the confirmed cases in Pilar, Bohol, the EO said there is an urgent need to temporarily ban the entry of hogs and pork.

Garcia invoked section 16 of the Local Government Code in issuing the order, citing the general welfare of her constituencies.

She also noted the power of the provincial governor “to adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve the resources of the province in coordination with the mayors of component cities and municipalities.”

“The Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Cebu Port Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, and Mayors within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu are called upon to monitor the strict implementation of this Executive Order,” the EO read. (PNA)

Photo credit: Department of Agriculture Official Website