During the Yuletide season, the daily volume reaches thousands.
In Davao Occidental alone, Gov. Claude Bautista said ASF had affected hogs in Malita, Santa Maria, Jose Abad Santos and Don Marcelino towns.As of Tuesday, close to 3,000 pigs have died in Don Marcelino, according to records from the municipal agriculture office, some 40 percent of the town’s 7,436-head inventory.
Because of the ASF infections in nearby provinces, demand for pork has gone down, resulting in reduced prices. From P200 per kilo, pork now sells at P180 in the public market in General Santos City. Meat vendors noted that consumers shifted from pork to beef and chicken and even fish due to fear of the swine disease.