Bulacan holds lechon fest to allay hog fears

MALOLOS CITY – At least 30 roasted pigs were served during a lechon festival here yesterday which Bulacan officials staged to prove that hogs from the province are safe for consumption.

Gov. Joselito Mendoza led hundreds of students, provincial employees and hog raisers in the festival that started as early as 6:30 a.m. at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center.

Mendoza said hog raisers randomly selected pigs to be roasted and served in the festival so as to allay the fears of consumers regarding the reported cases of hog cholera and swine flu in the province.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap echoed the safety of Bulacan pork products when he visited the Plaridel airport yesterday, saying that Bulacan and Pampanga are free of hog cholera and swine flu.

Yap said only less than five percent of the swine population in the two Central Luzon provinces was affected by the diseases.

Provincial veterinarian Dr. Felipe Bartolome said that the incidence of hog cholera and swine flu in Bulacan has been contained.

Bartolome said the timely distribution of vaccines and disinfectants greatly helped backyard hog raisers in fighting the disease.