BARANGAY San Juan which claims to be the Lechon Capital of City Of San Fernando – over the weekend feasted on roasted pigs in an aim to dispel the African Swine Flu (ASF) scare among consumers.

Village officials together with lechon store owners prepared at least three roasted pigs for a boodle fight with residents on Sunday noon.

Barangay San Juan Chairman Claro Tolentino said the activity is a testament that pork lechon -- and pork in general – from their area is safe for human consumption.

“Our experts already assured the public that ASF virus is not transferable to humans so Fernandinos and lechon buyers from other areas need not worry. And as a reassurance, we ourselves will eat pork lechon,” he said.

Tolentino said the lechon festival also aims to assist store owners in the village which may suffer if the ASF scare will persist.

He disclosed that at least four lechon stores that supply roasted pigs in different parts of the province are based in Barangay San Juan.

“Our lechon store owners will be most affected if the ASF scare will not be dispelled so we are hopeful that we will be able to assist them through this boodle fight,” he said.

Effects of ASF

Meanwhile, Tsax Lechon owner Narciso Tuazon said the ASF scare is already taking a toll on their business.

From about 600 to 700 pork lechon sold every month, Tuazon said they recorded a sale of 400 since the swine virus was reported in the country last month.

But while the sale of pork lechon dipped, Tuazon reported that orders of beef lechon soared by about 20 percent.

“Despite the movement in our average sales, we wanted to let our customers know that we did not adjust our prices so they can continuously enjoy our lechon products,” he said.