Despite the number of customers during the holiday season, sales of roast pig, or lechon, are down this year, based on the latest figures from the Metro Bacolod Lechon Vendors Association (MBLVA).

BLVA President Bobby Bedayo said they have monitored a drop of 30 percent in sales as compared to last year.

Bedayo pointed out, the minimum price of one roast pig currently runs at P4,500, which is more expensive than last year’s P4,000.

He said low sales and the price increase were due to the low supply of pigs in Negros, with buyers from neighboring Panay and Cebu purchasing live pigs from Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

Bedayo said, during a normal period, they typically sell around 20 roast pigs but, during holiday season, they can sell as much as 150 roast pigs a day./DGB, WDJ