Hog farmers in Negros Oriental are now bouncing back from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic as they now supply around 25,000 live pigs per month to the National Capital Region and other areas at competitive prices.

Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer and head of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) here, in an interview Monday, said the continuing threat posed by the African swine fever (ASF) that has affected many provinces, allowed local hog raisers to expand their markets in the past few months.

In a recent meeting with the local association of hog farmers and traders, Tundag said they now supply between 24,000 to 25,000 pigs to areas outside of the province each month.

“The prices of live weight hogs are pegged between PHP140 to PHP145 per kilo, and this is just the buying price,” he said in mixed English and Cebuano.

Last year, at the height of the pandemic and due to strict quarantine restrictions, pork was being sold in Negros Oriental at a low price of PHP99 per kilo, as these could not be transported outside of the province.

Trading is now brisk between Negros Oriental suppliers and buyers from Cebu, Manila, and other places because pork meat prices in these areas have spiraled due to the ASF scare, Tundag said.

He assured, though, that there is still enough pork meat for local consumption despite the upward supply trend for other provinces.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental continues to keep a tight watch against ASF by restricting the entry of pork products via the airport and sea ports, Tundag said.

The Bulado Port in Guihulngan City and the wharf in Sibulan town, which have reopened in recent months after being closed at the height of the pandemic last year, are now being closely monitored by BAI teams, he added.

Tundag said local government units (LGUs) have been alerted to keep an eye on the possible illegal entry of banned pork by-products, such as chorizo, from areas where ASF cases have been reported.