MEAT VENDORS SALES PLUNGE AMID ASF VIRUS SCARE IN LANGIHAN PUBLIC MARKET

LANGIHAN, BUTUAN CITY - So far, none tested positive for the African Swine fever virus in Caraga Region, including the city of Butuan. However, pork vendors in the city can still feel their sales declining.

Rickflier Apit, a pork vendor said, he was earning P30,000-P40,000 per day before, but it has since decreased to P15,000 per day, suspecting the spread of ASF virus is one of the reasons.

Some consumers choose to buy meat products such as Jomari Bucadon, saying he is just forced to purchase because it is his child’s birthday.

In line with this, Dr. Danilo Alegado of the Butuan City Veterinary Office urges the public not to get scared of the ASF cases because the affected areas are still in Davao region, adding the veterinary quarantine checkpoint in place remains strict in every entry and exit points to prevent the entry of the said swine disease in the city.

Meat products from RTR, Agusan del Norte have been banned due to the lack of necessary documents.

The pork products, by-products, and live hogs from Region 11 and 12 will also be prohibited once Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada signs the Executive Order.

According to Dr. Alegado, while there are banned swine products from certain affected areas, there’s no shortage of supplies is expected.

Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro remain the sources of the meat products which can be bought at P220 per kilo.