GENERAL SANTOS CITY (August 24, 2022) – A visibly emotional Councilor Atty. Kan “Sadyang Mapagmahal” Balleque, buries his face in his hands as he sheds tears while listening to the testimony of a backyard hog raiser detailing how she lost her only source of income after her hogs were identified as part of those that will be culled because of the suspected presence of African Swine Fever(ASF). “That is why malalim ang hugot ko sa isyung ito. Kasi nakikita ko yung sakripisyo ng mga maliliit na magbababoy. Sila yung tinatamaan. If we want to help our swine industry tulungan natin lahat, magkaisa tayo,” Atty. Kan said during the committee hearing conducted by the Committee on Agriculture on Wednesday, August 24. The committee hearing was conducted after the 20th Sangguniang Panlungsod passed two resolutions urging the city mayor Lorelie Pacquiao to reconsider Executive Order no. 1 series of 2022 or the “EXECUTIVE ORDER PROVIDING GUIDELINES ALLOWING ENTRY OF LIVE HOGS, PORK, AND PORK PRODUCTS TO THE CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS FROM RED AND PINK ZONES INTENDED FOR SHIPMENT THROUGH MAKAR WHARF, FOR LOCAL MEAT MARKET, AND THOSE PASSING THROUGH THE CITY-BOUND FOR OTHER DESTINATIONS OUTSIDE OF GENERAL SANTOS.”
