Stable supply; NegOcc PVO: Ample pork supply for MassKara fest, holidays

Posted by watchmen
October 19, 2024
Posted in HEADLINE
The Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) continues its efforts to ensure proper waste management during the 45th MassKara Festival. “Our team has been actively checking compliance among kiosk owners with waste segregation guidelines,” BENRO head Ma. Fe Trespuentes said, adding that recycling bins have been deployed throughout the four festival sites, which help maintain cleanliness and sustainability during one of Bacolod’s largest celebrations. (Bacolod PIO photo) 
The Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) continues its efforts to ensure proper waste management during the 45th MassKara Festival. “Our team has been actively checking compliance among kiosk owners with waste segregation guidelines,” BENRO head Ma. Fe Trespuentes said, adding that recycling bins have been deployed throughout the four festival sites, which help maintain cleanliness and sustainability during one of Bacolod’s largest celebrations. (Bacolod PIO photo)

By JEN BAYLON

The Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said there will be an ample supply of pork for the 45th MassKara Festival and the holiday season.

PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana said the province is expected to sell between 3,000 and 4,000 hogs to other provinces later this month until December.

Hog supplies have also entered auction markets in several cities in Western Visayas, including capital Bacolod City, she said.

Lemana added that supplies are being shipped to neighboring Panay Island and Luzon to meet demands.

She also noted that the market price for pork currently ranges from P270 to P370 per kilogram.

However, prices may fluctuate due to the increased demand ahead of the MassKara Festival and the upcoming Christmas season and New Year.

 

Hog repopulation

Meanwhile, Lemana said the PVO is steadily repopulating hogs in the province following the impact of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak last year.

Lemana said they conducted surveillance efforts, highlighting the challenges of eradicating the ASF virus from affected poultry.

Hog vaccinations against ASF are being implemented, while the provincial government has also started providing sentinel hogs to raisers for swine artificial insemination to combat the decline in swine numbers, she said.

Lemana added that the hog industry in the province has not fully recovered from ASF.

Thousands of pigs were lost due to ASF and other transboundary diseases last year.

Out of nine ASF-affected local government units (LGUs) in the province, Escalante City remains not degraded to ASF pink zone, which indicates a reduced risk of ASF transmission.

The LGUs previously declared pink zones were the cities of Silay, Kabankalan, San Carlos, and Victorias, as well as the municipalities of Pulupandan, Hinigaran, Valladolid, and La Castellana.

Currently, Negros Occidental has no reported cases of ASF./JB, WDJ

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