WITH the looming supply shortage of pork, as reported by the Department of Agriculture, the Negros Occidental provincial government is urging local producers to sell pork and pork products at a lower cost to their fellow Negrenses.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said that local hog producers and backyard hog raisers would make profit when they sold pork and pork products outside of the province, but they should sell it at a lower price in the province considering the subsidies given to them by the provincial government, like the testing for animal diseases such as African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza that affect the swine and poultry industries in the neighboring provinces.

Diaz also assured that the province has enough supply of pork.

If within the province, the transportation cost is also less, Diaz pointed out.

"They should give back the favor to our fellow Negrenses," Diaz emphasized.

"We remain having good production at both our backyard and commercial hog raisers, and we remain vigilant with our biosecurity as we are aiming to achieve Level 2 accreditation for our laboratory for animal diseases such as the ASF and avian influenza. We have the tools against the diseases that pose threats in our pork and poultry industries; that's why we remain free from those animal diseases," Diaz also pointed out.

Diaz said that five years from now, Negros Occidental would be the stronghold of food security that will supply pork and pork products in other areas outside of the province.

That's why, he said, it is very crucial to keep the province free from ASF and AI.

To make sure of the quality and sanitation seven abattoirs are being constructed all over the province.

This is aside from the province's slaughterhouse project in Bago City, which is already complete.

Diaz also said that border control on pork and pork products coming from other provinces under the "red zones," or areas that have confirmed cases of ASF and AI, including those from Panay and Cebu, is strictly observed.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez warned that shortages in the supply of pork could be felt starting next month amid the outbreak of ASF in the country.

He echoed the warning earlier made by the National Livestock Program (NLP) that there would be a shortage of at least 46,104 metric tons in the pork supply this June.*