La Union town bans local hog raisers from shipping out livestock

By Caren Grace R. Cabanayan

SAN FERNANDO CITY-- The local government of Rosario in La Union province issued executive order 6 series of 2021 to temporarily suspend its local swine raisers from selling and shipping out their livestock outside the municipality which started Jan 14.
    The order only covers those with backyard piggeries while  commercial piggery farms are exempted.
    According to Dr. Fay Baniqued, municipal veterinarian, this issuance aims to ensure enough and steady supply of pork for the town’s people as the municipality is experiencing pork shortage since December last year.
    “May shortage tayo ng baboy dito sa ating bayan mula pa nung Disyembre. Dahil nga ASF-free ang Rosario ay marami pong munisipiyo dito sa La Union ang kumukuha ng supply ng karneng baboy dito sa atin. Hindi rin naman po tayo kumukuha ng baboy o karne mula sa ibang bayan,” Baniqued said in an interview.
    Among LGUs in La Union importing pork products from Rosario are Agoo, Pugo, Sto.Tomas, Balaoan, and the city of San Fernando.
    As a result, the selling price of said meat product in the municipality climbed up to P320 to Php350.
    “Ang consequence niya, tumataas yung retail price namin dito sa munisipyo. Maraming umaangal na mga residente sa mataas na presyo ng karneng baboy. Nag-usap kami ni Mayor and I suggested the temporary suspension to stabilize the price,” she said. 
    Through said EO, the LGU established the meat’s suggested retail price at P280 to P300.
    Any individual found to have violated this order shall be penalized accordingly which may result in the revocation of permit to operate business.-- PIA La Union