BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Government has prohibited the entry of live pigs, pork, and pork products from areas with confirmed African Swine Fever (ASF) cases following the issuance of an executive order aimed at protecting the city’s swine industry from the highly contagious disease.
Mayor Greg G. Gasataya recently signed Executive Order No. 046, Series of 2026, or the “City African Swine Fever Prevention and Containment Order of 2026,” which imposes stricter measures on disease surveillance, movement control, biosecurity, and quarantine across the city.
The order covers all stakeholders in the swine industry, including commercial and backyard hog raisers, traders, transporters, slaughterhouses, meat establishments, and livestock markets operating in Bacolod.
Under the order, the transport of live pigs, pork, pork products, and swine by-products into, out of, and within the city must comply with existing national regulations. Shipments are required to carry a Veterinary Health Certificate, Shipping Permit, Meat Inspection Certificate, and other documents prescribed by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the City Veterinary Office (CVO).
The executive order specifically bans the entry of live pigs and pork products originating from areas with confirmed ASF cases.
To enforce the measure, quarantine checkpoints will be established at strategic entry and exit points to inspect all shipments involving swine and pork products.
The order also strengthens disease surveillance by requiring barangay officials, hog raisers, livestock technicians, veterinarians, meat inspectors, slaughterhouse operators, traders, and transporters to immediately report any unusual illness or deaths among pigs to the CVO. Failure to report suspected ASF cases may result in administrative or legal sanctions.
As part of the city’s intensified campaign, the Bacolod City Government has reactivated the Bantay ASF sa Barangay (BABAY ASF) Program to improve community-based monitoring and facilitate the early detection and reporting of possible ASF cases.
Commercial and backyard hog farms are likewise required to implement stricter biosecurity measures, including limiting farm visitors, installing footbaths and vehicle disinfection facilities, regularly cleaning and disinfecting farm buildings and equipment, properly disposing of animal waste and carcasses, and strictly prohibiting the feeding of untreated food waste or swill to pigs.
The order further mandates that newly purchased or returning pigs undergo a 30-day quarantine before being integrated into existing herds to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
Should ASF be confirmed or strongly suspected, the City Veterinary Office is authorized to recommend the establishment of quarantine areas and disease control zones in accordance with national guidelines. The movement of pigs and pork products from affected areas will be suspended until authorities declare the areas safe.
City officials said the executive order is intended to strengthen Bacolod’s preparedness against ASF through enhanced biosecurity, stricter movement controls, coordinated enforcement, and active community participation in disease prevention./PN
