Cebu pork ban lifted

Amid the high cost of pork in Cebu, Governor Pamela Baricuatro on Thursday lifted the ban on the entry of pigs and pork products from other provinces.

“This is to ease the burden of consumers as they are facing high pork prices, which have reached P400 per kilo,” the governor stressed.

“We signed an executive order lifting the restriction on the entry of livestock. It was brought about because of the present situation where the price per kilo of pork is very high. I think now it’s at P400/kilo, and in the other provinces it’s like almost P100 plus — ours is the highest all over the country in Cebu, so it’s concerning,” Baricuatro added.

However, she reiterated that strict bio-security measures, including valid Veterinary Health Certificates, approved shipping permits, and meat inspection certificates, remain mandatory for all incoming products.

Provincial Veterinarian Mary Rose Vincoy explained that the new directive does not eliminate the risk of swine disease in Cebu, emphasizing that the virus will always be present.

The lifting order was promptly disseminated to mayors, city and municipal agriculturists, the Cebu Port Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The pork ban by the previous administration was due to African Swine Fever.