Tagbilaran City, Bohol (CNN Philippines, April 16) — Bohol’s top official said the local goverment is banning all pork products from Cebu from entering the province as a protection against African swine fever (ASF).
Governor Aris Aumentado said in an interview that even imported pork meat with certification that it came from ASF-free countries will not be allowed to enter Bohol if it passes through Cebu Island.
The Cebu International Port is one of the biggest gateways for imported meat, supplying many provinces in the Visayas region.
Aumentado admitted that there were a lot of complaints from restaurants and meat processing establishments who rely on imported meat. He said these business establishments were advised to have their imported meat pass through other areas such as Cagayan De Oro City instead of Cebu.
RELATED: Bohol imposes border control after reported ASF cases in Cebu
Aumentado said the measure aims to protect the province’s P8-billion hog industry. He also said Bohol is the only remaining province in Central Visayas that is still ASF-free.
At the Tagbilaran City sea port, specially trained K-9 units were deployed to sniff out pork from the luggage and cargo of arriving passengers.
Random manual inspection of the luggage of passengers is conducted in all ports in Bohol.
