Holiday for hog producers

By Leonardo Micua

WHEN Secretary William Dar was in Lingayen on December 23 to officially launch the financial assistance to farmers affected by the low buying price of palay as a result of the Rice Tariffication Law–with the help of the Land Bank of the Philippines—he was evasive about the African Swine Fever (ASF) that piqued some newsmen no end. 

“Sa rice tayo lang ha”, was his sarcastic response to the opening question of Tito Tamayo of DWIZ in an interview by newsmen with Governor Amado Espino III and DA Regional Director Lucrecio Alvear beside him. We know where he was coming from. It could be because ASF has not been completely controlled despite the 1-7-10 protocol adopted in some areas.

While we don’t hear of new swine deaths due to the ASF in Pangasinan, the red flag raised on the Philippines in the international community over the swine disease could only mean the ASF in the country has not been eliminated. Bottom line: we still cannot export pork to other countries.

Perhaps Secretary Dar was being careful not to spoil the fun during the holidays where the all-time Filipino favorite lechon is always very conspicuous in the dining table. In fact, the demand for lechon as well as pork adobo has not waned even if ASF was detected for a time in Mapandan and Bayambang and mass culling of hogs have taken place.

Lechon was also served during the Christmas party of The Punch last week. And why not? It’s what Christmas parties should not be without.  But we note—and this is according to our source—a whole lechon can be had now for as low as P5,000, instead of the usual P7,000 pre-ASF period.

Vigilance against ASF is continuing in our province. The quarantine checkpoints in all entry points of Pangasinan have not been lifted. Live hogs as well as processed pork are still denied entry into Pangasinan, if the shipment lacks the required veterinary health certificate. 

This could be the reason why even Provincial Agriculturist Dalisay Moya is cautious in issuing statements about ASF.  For sure there’s no news blackout imposed by Mr. Dar, but the DA may simply want our hog raisers to take advantage of the traditional demand during the holidays in order to recover losses from the ASF. 

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After the holidays, expect our athletes to go on full throttle in their training for the coming Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) meet that will be held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center with Pangasinan 1 as host.

 Asked Monday night if Dagupan could retain its back-to- back crown as R1AA champion, former Dagupan Sports Commission Vice Chairman Finnela Sim was very optimistic that Dagupan athletes can do it again and can muscle down all who try to wrest the crown from them.

She said the same athletes that she handled will go and compete in the 2020 meet finds no reason they will not succeed in their quest for a third R1AA title in a row.

It will be recalled Dagupan won 86 gold medals against the 56 gold medals of second-running Pangasinan II in the 2019 R1AA held in Ilocos Sur. That’s a whale of difference that is difficult to overtake, she said. 

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Many already suspect that Dagupan City government has made a 180-degree turn on “Iwas Paputok”, launched by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Mayor Brian Lim himself on December 3 after city officials virtually legalized the manufacture and sale of firecrackers in the city.

They did this by allowing vendors to sell pyrotechnics on Burgos Street in front of the West Central Elementary School to walking buyers and even to passing drivers and passengers of motor vehicles resulting in bumper-to-bumper situations.

The firecracker stands are located only a few meters away from the Dagupan City Police Station but its officers and men continue turning a blind eye to the flagrant violation by illegal firecracker vendors and manufacturers.

The anomalous situation has given rise to speculations that the city’s cops and barangay officials are taking orders from city hall to play the role of monkeys who see, hear and do nothing about “Iwas Paputok”.

There were reports that the owners of the firecracker stands paid from as much as P5,000 to P10,000 to a gang controlling city hall.

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My New Year’s wish is for legit news to triumph over the fake news in all media platforms and for all trolls to be exposed and vanish or find more lucrative and undertakings.

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