CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela, Oct. 10 (PIA) - The Local Chief Executive of this province has ordered the total ban on the entry of swine and all fresh, frozen, and processed pork products in the province.

Gov. Rodolfo Albano III signed Executive Order No. 46 as manifestation of his desire to prevent the entry of African Swine Fever-affected meat products in Isabela.

Albano said in his order that it is the policy of the State to promote a just and fair environment for trade and other economic activities and provide effective mechanisms or measures to promote the well-being of its citizens, their livelihood, and the economy.

"Following the reported incidents of hog mortality in certain areas in the Philippines, and cases of African Swine Fever in some Asian, European and African countries, the LCE of this province issued Executive Order No. 25-A in August 26, 2019, creating a task force to establish monitoring and quarantine of livestock for the control and prevention of African Swine Fever in Isabela," Albano said.

He said that the Department of Agriculture recently confirmed that the highly-infectious African Swine Fever caused the death of pigs in atleast seven villages near Manila and most recent news reports have placed the number of pigs culled in the Luzon provinces of Rizal and Bulacan have reached 7,400 with more provinces such as Pangasinan reporting similar cases.

"Isabela hosts some of the biggest hog raisers in the country and more aggressive measures need to be implemented to prevent the infection from reaching local farms and disrupting economic activity in the province," the governor added.

Albano directed all Local Chief Executives, the Isabela Police Provincial Office and the Task Force to ensure the application of laws, ordinances, and other issuances in the implementation of Executive Order 46. (ALM/MGE - PIA-2/Isabela)