LINGAYEN—Hog traders from outside Pangasinan have appealed to Governor Amado Espino III to relax his executive order implementing a temporary total ban on the entry of all live swine/pigs into Pangasinan including cargoes with complete documents to pass through en route to La Union and Baguio to deliver hogs.

This was sought during the emergency meeting of swine and livestock handlers and stakeholders in the industry called by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian at the Capitol Resort Hotel last Thursday, September 12 after the executive order for a temporary total ban was issued by Gov. Espino.

Traders asked that trucks with proper shipping permits bringing in swine that are covered by veterinary health certificates be allowed to pass through Pangasinan via the Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEx) on their way to either La Union and Baguio. 

They said if the executive order of the governor is not relaxed, La Union and Baguio will soon run out of supply of pork.

Assistant Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Jovito Tabarejos countered citing a recent incident when a hog trader tried to deceive the authorities.

“When we allowed this, one truck that was supposed to deliver its cargo of swine to La Union as stated in documents that were presented by the trader, turned left to Urdaneta City and proceeded to deliver its cargo to the Mangaldan Slaughterhouse,” Tabarejos said.

The truck, however, was not able to unload its cargo in Mangaldan because there were PNP personnel and veterinarians posted at the Mangaldan Slaughterhouse, and was immediately ordered to bring back its cargo of hogs to its point of origin.

Dr. Alfrero Banaag of the Department of Agriculture in Region 1, said only Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur issued executive orders banning the entry of hogs in their respective jurisdictions, while Ilocos Norte is set to issue one in order to intercept hogs from Cagayan. (Leonardo Micua)

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