By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Lechon vendors in Bacolod City reported that their sales are going well a few weeks before the holidays.

Velma Rose Gomez, proprietor of a lechon store in Barangay Singcang Airport’s Purok Lechonan, said the interest of the consumers for the highly-popular holiday dish has not waned despite the threat of hog cholera and African swine fever.

Gomez said that her business has not encountered any problems with pork supply, concurring with the earlier statement from the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).

She added that they are getting their supply of hogs from the towns of Don Salvador Benedicto and Moises Padilla.

However, she also confirmed that hog prices have increased.

The price of lechon runs from P6,500 being the cheapest, while the most expensive is from P13,000 to P14,000.

Gomez said that prices will likely increase in the coming days.

She added that they are already getting advanced orders for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Gomez also assured consumers that their lechon is safe, as they comply with the strict biosecurity protocols imposed by the PVO, and the regulations implemented by the City Health Office on proper food preparation./DGB, WDJ