THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental stressed that there’s enough supply of meat products in the province amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in a food security forum held at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City, Monday, May 4.

The forum initiated by the Diocese of Bacolod underscored if the province can sustain rice production as well as vegetable and meat supply until such time that there’s already a vaccine for Covid-19.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena presented that the province has surplus in supply of meat.

The prices of livestock and poultry products are also stable, he added.

Prior to the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province last March 30, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has already assured enough supply of livestock and poultry products.

A top official of PVO said pork and chicken supplies are stable, as well as carabeef (carabao meat) as alternative for beef, which is deficit.

“The province is also surplus in supply of chevon (goat meat),” Decena had said, adding that the province now has enough supply of eggs.

The provincial veterinarian pointed out that this is due to abnormal decrease in demand of eggs during the quarantine period.

Decena earlier said before the ECQ implementation, that Negros Occidental was deficit in eggs by almost 40 percent in commercial production though free-range chicken eggs by backyard raisers could support.

“We recorded a stable supply now,” he said.

Meanwhile, the forum was attended by Bishop Patricio Buzon.

Among other panelists included provincial agriculturist Japhet Masculino, Bacolod City agriculturist Goldwyn Nifras and city assessor Maphilindo Polvora.