The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Oriental is calling for the reactivation of the provincial price monitoring council after hog traders and suppliers disagreed on a fair selling price of live pig meat in Valencia town.

PVO information officer Jaymar Vilos told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that a meeting was held recently in Valencia for farmers and traders to determine the fair price.

“The traders want to bring down the offer of the farmer-sellers of P150 a kilo per live meat so they can earn a decent profit,” Vilos said.

The traders said they can buy live pigs from other areas in the province at a lower price than what is offered in Valencia, he added.

However, the farmers are refusing to yield, saying they are still in the recovery process following an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) last year.

Vilos said the local government called for the meeting to help hog farmers recover from the outbreak last year that impacted several backyard raisers.

Valencia has been declared a “pink zone” according to the ASF categorization of areas affected by the animal disease.

A pink zone is a buffer zone where no ASF cases are detected but is adjacent to a red zone with confirmed ASF cases.

Farmers received indemnification from the national government in February and are now allowed to sell their hogs under controlled conditions outside the municipality and the province.

The PVO, while assisting farmers in recovery efforts, does not have jurisdiction and control over the selling and trading of hogs and other livestock, Vilos said. (PNA)

Caption

A customer inquires about pork prices at a stall in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental in this undated photo. The Provincial Veterinary Office is facilitating hog farmers and traders to reach a fair price agreement to bring down the high prices of pork in local markets. (PNA photo)