High prices of pork dent lechon sales in La Loma ahead of New Year

Lechon vendors in La Loma, Quezon City have noticed slower sales for the upcoming New Year celebration as compared to the same period last year.

According to Raffy Tima’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, shop owner Rene Ferreros said there were more people placing orders a day before New Year’s Eve last year as compared to this year’s customers.

“Siguro po nasa mga ano, mga 30%, 40% ang nawala sa tao. Kasi noong last year, ganitong petsa pa lang, halos talaga puno na ‘yung tao dito,” he said. 

(Maybe there’s a 30% to 40% drop in the number of people. Because last year, by this date, this place was already almost packed with people.) 

The lechon shops noted that it was not the threat of African swine fever (ASF) that affected their sales.

It was the expensive cost of pork that discouraged people from ordering lechon, said Ferreros. 

“’Yun na lang talaga dahil sobrang taas po ng baboy,” said Ferreros.

(That is really the only reason, the price of pork is just too high.) 

Personnel from the Quezon City Veterinary Department visited the lechon shops to check their compliance with health regulations amid the threat of ASF.

In November, the Quezon City government said 14 lechon establishments have been cleared of traces of ASF. 

Lechon shops are no longer allowed to slaughter pigs in La Loma and that such activities should be done in accredited slaughter houses. 

With the soaring prices of pork, some customers already placed their orders on Tuesday and will just pick them up on Wednesday, New Year’s Ave.

Other lechon shops offer free samples to entice more customers to buy freshly-roasted lechon.

Shops are also hoping to have more customers on New Year’s Eve, which they hope will compensate for the slow sales on Christmas Day. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News