THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental, through its African Swine Fever (ASF) Livestock Transport Registration Team, has registered a total of 187 livestock transport carriers just in the last two weeks.

Livestock transport registration requires the registrant to present official receipt and certificate of registration (OR/CR), Department of Agriculture (DA) Livestock Transport Carrier Accreditation, Livestock Handler’s License and Mayor’s Permit or Business Permit to be qualified for issuance of truck sticker.

Also, registrants can be registered if they are included in the registration book maintained by the ASF Transport Registration Team.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the registration aims to harmonize the hog transport regulations as part of the provincial government’s strengthening effort in keeping Negros Occidental as “green zone” or ASF-free.

Under which, the PVO registers all livestock carriers transacting in the province and issues truck stickers valid for a year.

Only PVO registered carriers are allowed to exclusively transact livestock trading in all “oksyon markets” in the province, and transport livestock within and outside the province.

This is in accordance to Section 2 of the Executive Order (EO) 21-11, Series of 2011, otherwise known as “An order establishing regulations on the entry to and exit from Negros Occidental of Livestock Transport Vehicles” issued by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier this year.

The EO stated that only transport vehicles accredited with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the PVO shall be allowed entry to the province.

The province further reserves the right to refuse entry of transport vehicles originating from ASF stricken areas identified by the DA.

Decena said implementing guidelines have also been adopted by the PVO with regard to the implementation of Sections 3 and 4 of the EO, particularly for outbound transport of live hogs and other livestock as well as their transport from Regions 6 and 7 passing through the province.

The Livestock Transport Registration Team continues to register all transport carriers from local, inbound and outbound markets transacting in Negros Occidental, the provincial veterinarian said.

“This is to ensure that with the continuing outbreaks of ASF in the neighboring provinces and regions resulting to supply shortage and price increase of pork thus, the PVO remain steadfast to keep the province as ASF-free and a major source of live hogs to Luzon and other neighboring provinces,” he added.