DINALUPIHAN, Jan. 17 -- Sale of hog meat in four municipalities in this province went down due to the presence of African swine fever (ASF) in two of the towns, meat vendors said on Friday.

Laboratory tests on Wednesday showed that the virus was present in some piggeries in four villages in Dinalupihan and one in Hermosa.

Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia and Hermosa municipal administrator Rex Jorge confirmed the report, saying they were implementing measures to contain the virus.

Only a small volume of pork was on sale at the Dinalupihan public market.

Virgilio Sacdalan, a pork and chicken vendor, was selling only chicken.

Many tables in the meat section stalls were empty.

"Iniutos na huwag magtinda kahapon. Ipinasara ni mayora (Garcia) ang slaughterhouse gawa ng nagpositibo sa ASF. Baka one month daw kaming hindi magtitinda (We were ordered not to sell hog meat yesterday [Thursday]. Mayor Garcia ordered the closure of the slaughterhouse due to ASF. We might not sell for one month)," he said.

Sacdalan and most of the meat vendors source their supply from the Tabacan slaughterhouse in Dinalupihan, which was ordered closed on Thursday.

He said some vendors were still selling pork but only a few people were buying it.

Another vendor, Marita San Diego, said, "Natatakot mga tao kahit ang baboy namin walang swine fever (The people are afraid, even though our hog meat is not affected by swine fever)."

In the public markets of Orani and Samal, where no ASF was discovered, fear of the hog disease was also felt, resulting in fewer people buying pork meat. These towns are adjacent to Dinalupihan and Hermosa.

"Nang magkaroon ng ASF, matumal benta. Dati anim, apat, limang baboy, ngayon tatlo na lamang nauubos (With the presence of ASF, our sales slowed down. Before, we sold six, four or five hogs, now only three are sold)," said Evelyn Lacsa, a meat vendor at the Orani public market.

Loida Carasig, also a meat vendor at the Samal public market, said, "Dati nakakaubos kami ng isang baboy, ngayon one-fourth na lang, hindi pa maubos (Before, we were able to sell one hog, but now we can't sell even one-fourth of it)."

Despite this, she said they have not reduced the price of pork meat.