Pork prices soar in Negros Oriental amid low supply

Posted by watchmen
February 14, 2024
Posted in News

 

Roasted pig sucklings command higher prices in the Negros Oriental market these days compared to last year. Authorities reported on Monday, February 12, 2024, a perceived low supply of live hogs which triggered a spike in pork prices. (PNA / File photo)
Roasted pig sucklings command higher prices in the Negros Oriental market these days compared to last year. Authorities reported on Monday, February 12, 2024, a perceived low supply of live hogs which triggered a spike in pork prices. (PNA / File photo)

The prices of pork in Negros Oriental, particularly in Dumaguete City, continued to rise amid a perceived low supply of live hogs, authorities said on Monday, February 12.

Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), said that for the past two months, Negros Oriental had zero inbound shipment of live hogs “even though only a few areas in the province are still affected by the African swine fever [ASF].”

The quarantine officer said that technically, suppliers from green zones or areas with no ASF cases can still ship out their live hogs to other provinces provided they have complied with the requirements and if the destinations would receive them.

Tundag said it is unusual that Negros Oriental would experience a limited supply of pork if it had not made deliveries outside the province.

The prices of lechon (roast pig) and pork, he said, have gone up considerably since late last year.

Current market prices vary between P340 to P370 a kilo of lean meat, compared to at least P220 last year.

Lechon de leche or roasted pig suckling costs as much as P4,000 to P4,500, or about P1,000 higher than last year’s.

Jaymar Vilos, information officer of the Provincial Veterinary Office, said that only Ayungon town and Tanjay City still have reported cases of ASF.

Recent data showed that Tanjay City has culled 40 heads.

Since the start of the ASF infections last year, Ayungon has reported 190 pig deaths.

Live hogs and pork meat from Ayungon and Tayasan are not allowed outside their jurisdiction, while all other areas in the province can ship out their pigs provided they are given certification by the local government unit.

Vilos believes there is enough supply of live hogs for distribution in the market.

“What is needed here is to connect the hog suppliers to the sellers and distributors of pork, especially in Dumaguete,” he said. (PNA)

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