Western Visayas to continue sending pork products to NCR

THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Western Visayas said it will continue to allow swine producers in the region to send swine to the National Capital Region (NCR) despite the devastation brought about by Typhoon Odette (Rai).

Dr. Jonic Natividad, chief of the regulatory division of the DA-Western Visayas, said the supply of swine in the region is still sufficient.

“The Western Visayas, including the Central Visayas and some parts of the country, remains to be an African Swine Fever (ASF)-free. Other parts of the country depend on us for the supply of swine, especially this holiday season,” said Natividad, who also serves as the DA focal person on the campaign against ASF.

The DA continued to validate the worth of damage left by Typhoon Odette, especially on the swine industry in Western Visayas.

Outgoing Provincial Board Member Emmanuel Soviet Russia Dela Cruz, who chairs the agriculture committee in the Provincial Board of Aklan, said the province regulates the sending of swine supply to NCR.

“Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflroes has issued an executive order allowing only the maximum of 3,500 swine each month to be delivered especially to the National Capital Region. Above the said number would mean shortage of swine supply in the province,” he said.

Cherry Villanueva, owner of Cherry and Alex Lechon House, said the price of lechon is now priced at around P7,000 each. (SunStar Philippines)