Cebu (CNN Philippines, June 30) — The Court of Appeals on Friday issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Bureau of Animal Industry’s (BAI’s) culling and zoning map policy in Cebu province amid the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF).
The TRO stemmed from the petition filed by the Cebu provincial government on April 18 that asked the appellate court to direct the BAI to \”desist and refrain absolutely and perpetually from implementing its culling and zoning policy relating to the containment of the African Swine Fever.\”
\”With this TRO, there is no more color-coding because the BAI has been restrained from implementing such color-coding so that for at least the next 60 days this has been lifted,\” said Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia in a press conference.
The provincial government said in its petition that BAI usurped the functions of the local government unit in handling hog diseases under the Local Government Code.
The local government also questioned the methods of BAI in determining an infected pig, saying it did not conduct a differential diagnosis to validate that an ASF virus was present in the province.
The provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental on Thursday agreed to implement a uniform protocol in addressing threats of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia and Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria said they will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the matter next week, which will also lift restrictions imposed by the Bureau of Animal Industry.
\”The plan, that was mandated by the national (government), the whatever infected and one kilometer radius, has not been very effective,\” said Sagarbarria during his meeting with Garcia at Cebu Capitol.
\”We discussed as regards how to address the BAI, the policies of which have already caused negative economic impact to our hog raisers,\” said Garcia, who shared Sagarbarria’s sentiment.
\”So, we hope that with this live press conference, other chief executives will take notice, other governors and mayors, that have been affected by the culling policy as well as the color-coding policies of Bureau of Animal Industry,\” Garcia added.
The MOA will impose biosecurity measures for the safety of hogs and pork products when transported between the two provinces.
The memorandum will also lift mobility restrictions as Sagarbarria pointed out that Negros Oriental already has an excessive supply of hogs and pork products.
\”Our live hog products and their processed pork can now cross borders. This is what we are aiming for. In reality, our live hog weight price is now between P85 to P90 pesos and that is very low,\” he said.
Sagarbarri said hog deaths in Negros Oriental were a result of culling and natural causes, and not because of ASF.
