Talisay City in Negros Occidental has imposed strict new controls on the movement, slaughter, and disposal of hogs and pork products following a resurgence of African Swine Fever (ASF) that has already killed hundreds of pigs across the province, the city government announced this week.
Mayor Maria Rowena Guadalupe Lopez Lizares signed Executive Order No. 35, Series of 2026, which took effect immediately upon signing. The order strengthens the city's guidelines for the prevention and control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs), including ASF and avian influenza.
Provincial Outbreak Confirmed by Bureau of Animal Industry
The executive order comes as provincial authorities confirm an active ASF resurgence concentrated in southern Negros Occidental. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said this week that laboratory tests conducted by the Bureau of Animal Industry confirmed infections across the province, with the pig mortality rate reaching 4.06 percent.
The town of San Enrique has been the hardest hit, with more than 500 pigs dead across all 10 of its barangays. Neighboring towns Moises Padilla and La Castellana have already imposed outright bans on the entry of live swine and pork products in response to the spreading disease.
Hog Movement Banned Without Permits and Biosecurity Certification
Under EO No. 35, no hogs or pork products may be moved outside Talisay City unless the animals originate from commercial farms compliant with provincial or national biosecurity standards and are accompanied by duly issued movement permits. Inter-barangay movement within the city is permitted only after inspection, documentation, and clearance by the City Veterinary Office.
All hogs slaughtered within Talisay — along with their meat products — must be consumed, sold, or processed within the city only, unless national or provincial authorities specifically authorize otherwise. Mandatory disinfection of all incoming and outgoing vehicles, livestock transport units, and pigpens is also required under the order.
Strict Burial and Decontamination Protocols for Dead Swine
The executive order sets detailed protocols for the handling and disposal of dead and contaminated swine. The city government is directed to designate a common mass-burial site and to provide hauling vehicles, excavation equipment, and a dedicated team to supervise burial and decontamination operations.
Carcasses must be buried at least six feet deep and treated with lime before backfilling. All body openings must be sealed prior to transport to prevent leakage, and hauling vehicles must be covered with leak-proof materials. Burial sites must be secured against scavenger animals and unauthorized persons.
All Industry Stakeholders Covered by the Order
The order applies to all hog raisers, traders, slaughterhouse operators, meat vendors, and transporters operating within Talisay City. It mandates continuous surveillance by the City Veterinary Office in coordination with barangay officials, close coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Animal Industry, and an intensive information campaign targeting raisers and the general public.
Penalties for Violations
Violations of EO No. 35 and related animal health laws are subject to administrative, civil, or criminal penalties under existing legislation, including the Provincial ASF Prevention Ordinance, according to the executive order.
ASF Does Not Infect Humans, But Economic Toll Is Severe
ASF is a highly contagious and often fatal disease in pigs but poses no infection risk to humans. Negros Occidental, which was once considered the country's top hog-producing province, lost nearly 18,000 pigs to ASF and hog cholera during its 2023 outbreak — a figure that underscores the economic stakes of the current resurgence for local hog raisers and the wider agricultural sector.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Bureau of Animal Industry / DA Western Visayas