By: Vanessa Bugtong
For Allan’s family, having lechon on their table during Christmas is a tradition.
It adds a special touch to their celebration.
“It only happens once a year. The kids are happy too,” said Allan Enrique, Resident.
Lechon is one of the dishes they plan to prepare this Christmas.
However, with just 15 days before Christmas, lechon sales in the market’s lechon section are still slow.
According to Mario Corona, President – Lechon Section, Baguio City Public Market, “It seems like we are still recovering.”
The same situation was observed last year.
“Only a few people are buying so far. But some have started placing reservations,” he added.
Aside from supply challenges, online lechon sellers also pose significant competition.
“It’s hard to keep up,” said Diane Velasquez, Vendor.
Despite this, vendors remain hopeful that sales will pick up in the coming weeks.
Due to the resurgence of ASF in neighboring regions, the supply of pork remains stable.
As of November 22, the Department of Agriculture reported that 369 areas across seven regions in the country are affected by ASF.
“They are checked at the slaughterhouse where we source our supply,” Corona mentioned.
However, prices may still increase in the coming days.
