Meat products from other provinces can now enter Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — Effective Thursday, July 3, livestock, meat, and pork products from other provinces can now enter Cebu Province.

This, after Cebu Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro signed three executive orders (EO) lifting the ban of entry and restrictions of these products from provinces affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) virus, following its high prices.

This move is expected to ease the prices of pork in Cebu, the Capitol said.

“What really pushed us into this order is because of the price of pork now,” said Baricuatro.

She described the pork prices in the province as “concerning” at around ?400, which she said was relatively higher than the 100 across the country.

While the ban has been lifted, Baricuatro assured that this move is subject to regular compliance and biosecurity measures.

Aside from EO No. 16 titled, “An Order Lifting the Restrictions on the Entry of Livestock, Meat, and Pork By-Products from Surrounding Provinces into the Province of Cebu, Subject to Regulatory Compliance and Biosecurity Measures”, she also signed was EO No. 17: “An Order Lifting the Down-time Period for Livestock Transport Carriers, Subject to Compliance with Biosecurity and Sanitation Measures”.

Last was EO No. 18: “An Order Lifting the Requirement for Livestock Transport Passes for the Movement of Livestock into and within the Province of Cebu, Subject to Regulatory Compliance and Biosecurity Measures”.

When asked about the health risks ASF posed, provincial veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vicoy assured that there are no reports yet as of press time, adding that the surveillance and monitoring in the industry is still in motion.

Vincoy also stressed that the province is at “low risk” with the ASF and will continue to impose biosecurity measures on the local government units.

She also highlighted that since the Animal Bureau Industry has no approved vaccine yet, ASF will remain endemic. It only means that there is no risk in allowing entry of live pigs and other products in Cebu.

Meanwhile, the Capitol assured it is in coordination with the Department of Agriculture in monitoring ASF surveillance and mitigation.

In 2019, then Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued the EO No. 13, which banned the entry of pork and pork products from ASF-affected countries even before local cases were reported. She later formed a task force to implement the ban and safeguard Cebu’s ?11-billion hog industry.

Consequently in March 2023, Garcia reimposed similar restriction through EO No. 9, prohibiting entry of live pigs, pork, and related products from Negros Island, which later extended under EO No. 11. In August of the same year, Garcia followed with EO No. 21, banning hogs and pork from Bohol following reported ASF cases in the province.

Meanwhile, following former Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol, former Agriculture Undersecretary Dante Delima has also joined the Food Security Team of Baricuatro, bringing with him his experience in grains production.

Delima, who once headed the Department of Agriculture’s National Rice and Corn Program, has volunteered to lead Cebu’s revitalized White and Yellow Corn Production initiative.

White corn grits remain a staple for many Cebuanos, while yellow corn is essential for animal feed production accordingly.

A Cebuano himself, Delima’s inclusion to the team is seen as a strategic move to reduce Cebu’s reliance on corn imports from Mindanao, where production has declined in recent years due to low farmgate prices and rising fertilizer costs.

Earlier, Pinol also shared that his nephew, Bjorn Piñol, has offered to assist in addressing river pollution in Cebu.

Bjorn, who recently earned a degree in Water Quality Management and Trace Metals Analysis from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom, expressed interest in contributing to environmental rehabilitation efforts, particularly in the polluted Butuanon River.

 “I was amazed by Bjorn’s sense of volunteerism at such a young age,” Piñol said. “But then I realized public service is in the DNA of the Piñol family.” Caecent No-ot Magsumbol with Reynan Monleon and Shyrielle Lariosa, CNU Journalism interns, BRP (CEBU NEWS)