Manila: The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Oriental is calling for the reactivation of the provincial price monitoring council after hog traders and suppliers disagreed on a fair selling price of live pig meat in Valencia town.

According to Philippines News Agency, PVO information officer Jaymar Vilos stated that a meeting was held recently in Valencia for farmers and traders to determine the fair price. 'The traders want to bring down the offer of the farmer-sellers of PHP150 a kilo per live meat so they can earn a decent profit,' Vilos said. The traders mentioned they can buy live pigs from other areas in the province at a lower price than what is offered in Valencia.

However, the farmers are refusing to yield, citing their ongoing recovery process following an outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF) last year. Vilos noted that the local government organized the meeting to assist hog farmers in their recovery from the outbreak, which had impacted several backyard raisers.

Valencia has been designated as a 'pink zone' according to the ASF categorization of affected areas. A pink zone acts as a buffer where no ASF cases are detected but is adjacent to a red zone with confirmed ASF cases. Farmers received indemnification from the national government in February and are now allowed to sell their hogs under controlled conditions outside of the municipality and the province.

While the PVO is aiding farmers in recovery efforts, Vilos emphasized that it does not have jurisdiction and control over the selling and trading of hogs and other livestock.