By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The number of hog exports from Negros Occidental since January of this year has already reached the 9,000 mark, based on data released by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
The province shipped out 4,303 hogs bound for Luzon, Mindanao and other parts of the Visayas in January, PVO data showed.
Around 2,765 pigs were shipped out in February, while 2,126 hogs were exported for March.
Data also show that Iloilo province has the biggest number of hog shipments, followed by the National Capital Region and Negros Oriental.
Earlier this month, pork products bound for Eastern Visayas were temporarily halted when Cebu province closed its borders for hog shipments after African swine fever (ASF) was detected in Carcar City.
The border with Cebu has since been reopened following deliberations by local officials.
Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the production of pork in the province remains strong despite warnings from the Bureau of Animal Industry of a looming shortage due to ASF.
Diaz also said biosecurity measures are strictly implemented.
He said the provincial government wants Negros Occidental to be the “stronghold” of the country’s food production capabilities.
The province’s hog industry is pegged at P6 billion.
Slight price increase in pork, goat meat
The PVO monitored a slight increase in the price of pork and goat meat based on their latest price monitoring as of March 27.
According to the PVO, the price of pork has increased by P1.54 per kilo, while goat meat prices have hiked by P2.33 per kilo.
In San Carlos City, pork is sold at P310 per kilo, while in Talisay City, it is sold at a lower price of P255 per kilo.
Beef is sold at P420 per kilo in Escalante City, while its lowest price was sold in E.B. Magalona and Pulupandan towns at P290 per kilo.
Meanwhile, carabao meat or carabeef — being sold in the cities of Sagay, Cadiz and Kabankalan — is priced at P390 per kilo, while it is sold at the lowest price at P190 per kilo in Don Salvador Benedicto town.
Egg prices in the province are at P7.60 for small-size, P8.15 for medium, P8.86 for large, and P9.67 for extra-large./DGB, WDJ