Cebu is tightening its borders to protect its massive P20 billion hog industry from the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF). Governor Pamela Baricuatro issued Executive Order (EO) 36 on Friday, June 26, 2026, ordering strict preventive measures across the province. The move comes after a confirmed ASF outbreak in neighboring Negros Occidental, putting local officials on high alert.
Strict Checks at the Borders
The new directive sets a 45-day restriction on pass-through livestock vehicles coming from Negros Occidental and other affected provinces. Transporters cannot enter freely; they must present valid shipping permits, animal health certificates, and mandatory negative ASF test results. To ensure compliance, local government units (LGUs) will set up random checkpoints to prevent pig smuggling into the province.
Activating Local Defenses
Under EO 36, several rules have been implemented to keep the virus away. Section 2 orders all component LGUs to activate local ASF Task Forces for quick responses 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 they have proper veterinary clearance. Sections 5 and 6 require the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) to conduct continuous routine blood testing, enforce strict farm disinfection, and immediately stop swill feeding (feeding pigs kitchen scraps). Sections 8 and 9 direct officials to work with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, police, and coast guard to monitor market prices and enforce strict port controls. Section 7 tasks the Provincial Information Office with public awareness campaigns, urging consumers to buy pork only from verified sources and to report any dead pigs to veterinary authorities.
Protecting the Lechon Industry
SunStar Cebu reported on June 24, 2026, that the PVO expanded border controls at seaports because hogs move rapidly across provinces to satisfy high demand for local lechon production. Officials are focusing heavily on seaports facing Negros Island—such as Toledo City and Tabuelan—to safeguard the industry and maintain Cebu's active zero-case standing. PVO Head Mary Rose Vincoy clarified that Cebu Province currently has no recorded active ASF cases, but warned that the danger is close.
"The African Swine Fever virus is already here present sa Philippines (The African Swine Fever virus is already here present in the Philippines)," Vincoy said. "So once it enters an area, ang virus naa na gyud na siya diha. It's just a matter of time when it's, uh, that right time conducive sa ilaha nga modaghan (So once it enters an area, the virus is really already there. It's just a matter of time when it's, uh, that right time conducive for them to multiply)," she added.
Aiming for Virus-Free Status
The race to protect Cebu's pigs also concerns the future of local farmers. The border tightening aims to protect the local hog population, as 16 LGUs in Cebu are currently applying for ASF-free status recognition from the Bureau of Animal Industry. SunStar Cebu previously reported on March 2, 2026, 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 now, Cebu hopes to protect its multi-billion peso industry and ensure a safe, steady pork supply for the public.
