THE Zamboanga City Hog Raisers Association (ZCHRA) has readied an animal dispersal program to increase the supply of pork in Zamboanga City.

Eric Jarina, ZCHRA president, said the dispersal program will be implemented in collaboration with the city government and the Department of Agriculture.

Under the program, Jarina said the association will distribute female piglets to interested applicants, who will have the opportunity to take care of the sow until it will be ready to bear its own piglets.

“Those interested may come and inform us so that we can evaluate if they are qualified to join the program. Hopefully, this can be implemented by March or April,” Jarina said.

Jarina stressed the need to act now to solve food security of this city.

Dr. Mario Arriola, city veterinarian officer, said the city’s daily supply of pork had decreased to 103 heads of pigs or a total of 5,010 daily in January from 135 hogs or a total of 10,000 kilos of pork per day in December.

Arriola said the scarcity of pork in this city was aggravated as hog traders from nearby provinces opted to sell their produce at a higher price to Manila and other regions in the country. (SunStar Zamboanga)