PROCESSED PORK. Hog raisers in Negros Oriental have reassured the public of a steady supply of pork meat and its by-products (shown in this undated photo) even as demand rises due to the Christmas season. The province currently ships out 25,000 to 35,000 heads of pig to other parts of the country. (File photo courtesy of BAI-Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Hog raisers in Negros Oriental have reassured the public there is enough supply of pork meat even as the demand increases due to the coming Christmas holidays.
Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer and head of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) here, on Wednesday said the reassurance came even as hog raisers continue to supply other provinces with live pigs.
Between 25,000 to 35,000 heads of pigs are being shipped out of the province per month, he noted.
Negros Oriental has been supplying hogs to other areas as some provinces are still grappling with the effects of Asian swine fever (ASF) and therefore could not sell their livestock, he added.
Many provinces have banned the entry of pork and its by-products from areas with ASF cases.
Currently, the selling price of pigs in Negros Oriental is slowly increasing, pegged between PHP130 to PHP140 per kilo of live weight.
Local hog raisers are now recovering from the slow business during the onset of the pandemic when live-weight pork meat was sold below PHP100 per kilo.
Negros Oriental and the rest of the Central Visayas provinces remain ASF-free with restrictions still in place against the entry of pork meat and its by-products from areas affected by the hog disease. (PNA)
