Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro signed Executive Order (EO) 36 on Friday, June 26, 2026, imposing strict preventive measures to protect the province's P20 billion hog industry from African Swine Fever (ASF). The move follows a confirmed ASF outbreak in neighboring Negros Occidental, raising alarm among local officials.
Strict Border Checks and 45-Day Restriction
The new directive enforces a 45-day restriction on pass-through livestock vehicles from Negros Occidental and other affected provinces. Transporters must present valid shipping permits, animal health certificates, and mandatory negative ASF test results to enter Cebu.
Local government units (LGUs) are required to set up random checkpoints to prevent illegal pig smuggling into the province.
Activation of Local Defenses
EO 36 outlines several key measures to keep the virus at bay. Section 2 orders all component LGUs to activate local ASF Task Forces for rapid response and continuous monitoring. Sections 3 and 4 enforce strict inspections at ports facing Negros Island, banning live hogs or pork products from infected zones unless accompanied by proper veterinary clearance.
Sections 5 and 6 mandate the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) to conduct routine blood testing, enforce farm disinfection, and immediately stop swill feeding (feeding pigs kitchen scraps). Sections 8 and 9 direct officials to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, police, and coast guard to monitor market prices and enforce port controls.
Section 7 tasks the Provincial Information Office with public awareness campaigns, urging consumers to buy pork only from verified sources and report dead pigs to veterinary authorities.
Protecting the Lechon Industry
The PVO expanded border controls at seaports because of the rapid movement of hogs to meet high demand for local lechon production, SunStar Cebu reported on June 24. Officials are focusing on seaports facing Negros Island, such as Toledo City and Tabuelan, to safeguard the industry and maintain Cebu's zero-case status.
PVO Head Mary Rose Vincoy clarified that Cebu Province currently has no recorded active ASF cases but warned of the proximity of the threat. "The African Swine Fever virus is already here present in the Philippines," Vincoy said. "So once it enters an area, the virus is really already there. It's just a matter of time when it's that right time conducive for them to multiply."
Aiming for Virus-Free Status
The border tightening aims to protect local hog populations as 16 LGUs in Cebu are applying for ASF-free status recognition from the Bureau of Animal Industry. SunStar Cebu reported on March 2 that the PVO launched a province-wide hog surveillance program to help local raisers secure a "green zone" certification from the Department of Agriculture. By keeping the virus out, Cebu hopes to protect its multi-billion peso industry and ensure a safe pork supply for the public.
