ILOILO City – The provincial government of Aklan has imposed a sweeping ban on the entry of live hogs, pork, and other swine-related products from Iloilo, Capiz, and the entire Negros Island Region (NIR), becoming the latest province to tighten its defenses against the spread of African swine fever (ASF).
Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores signed Executive Order No. 044 on June 23 strengthening veterinary quarantine, border control, surveillance testing, movement regulation, and biosecurity measures amid confirmed, probable, and suspected ASF cases in neighboring provinces.
ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs but not humans. Because the disease can spread rapidly among pigs and can cause heavy losses to hog raisers, early reporting, testing and strict farm sanitation remain critical.
Miraflores’ order followed a similar border restriction earlier imposed by Capiz and aims to prevent ASF from reaching Aklan’s swine industry.
“There is a need to strengthen border control to prevent the entry and spread of ASF,” Miraflores said, citing suspected, probable, and confirmed ASF cases in Capiz, Iloilo Province, and the NIR.
Under the executive order, Aklan has temporarily prohibited the entry, transit, transport, sale, distribution, and movement of live swine, pork, pork products, pork by-products, swine genetic materials, and other swine-derived commodities originating from or passing through the affected areas.
“Pending the declaration of ASF-free status by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), or other competent veterinary authorities, the Province of Aklan hereby imposes a temporary ban on the entry, transit, transport, sale, distribution, and movement of live swine, pork, pork products, pork by-products, swine semen, embryos, and other swine-derived commodities originating from or passing through the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo, and all provinces and highly urbanized cities within the Negros Island Region,” the executive order stated.
To enforce the restrictions, Miraflores directed all municipalities and barangays situated along provincial borders, ports, coastal routes, transportation corridors, and other access points to establish and maintain veterinary border control checkpoints and biosecurity stations.
Local government units have also been ordered to ensure continuous monitoring, inspection, disinfection, documentation, and reporting at checkpoints, while neighboring municipalities are required to conduct joint surveillance and enforcement operations against the illegal transport and smuggling of regulated swine commodities.
All ports, airports, roll-on/roll-off terminals, fish ports, landing sites, and municipal boundary checkpoints will be placed under mandatory veterinary quarantine inspection and biosecurity protocols supervised by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET).
Shipments allowed to enter Aklan must first secure a Certificate of Acceptance from OPVET before transport. Applications must be supported by a valid Veterinary Health Certificate, shipping or transport permits, ASF surveillance or disease-free certification when applicable, meat inspection certificates, and other documents required to verify origin and traceability.
Shipments found violating the order may be denied entry, confiscated, impounded, returned to their place of origin, or disposed of in accordance with existing laws and biosecurity protocols.
The executive order also authorizes the Provincial Veterinary Office to conduct random sampling, laboratory testing, surveillance, and inspections of live swine, pork products, transport vehicles, slaughterhouses, meat establishments, public markets, and cold storage facilities to detect potential ASF risks.
All municipal and barangay governments, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Group, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other concerned agencies have been directed to provide personnel and logistical support in enforcing the province’s ASF containment measures.
Violators — including traders, transporters, livestock dealers, meat establishments, and business entities — face administrative sanctions ranging from confiscation of shipments and suspension or cancellation of permits to blacklisting and permanent prohibition from conducting swine-related business within Aklan for repeated violations./PN
