Pig Still Delicious in the Philippines

Despite the swine flu outbreak, Asia's appetite for pork remains healthy. People in Manila in the Philippines are seemingly unfazed by the flu scare.

Throughout Asia, fears of a global swine flu outbreak has yet to reach the dining table with pork still a favorite for many.

In the Philippines, though pork prices initially went down with a small drop in demand, locals continue to eat pork products like roasted pig or lechon.

Lechon is a favorite Filipino delicacy and is popular food for parties.

[Josie Pua, Restaurant Worker]:
"Our customers haven't been avoiding pork. Maybe when the flu gets here, it will affect us. But we have safety inspectors."

Filipinos are comforted by the fact that the swine flu virus has not reached the Philippine's shores. Health officials now say the new virus strain does not come directly from hogs.

[Rodolfo Lagarde, Customer]:
"Even if there's a swine flu virus, we'll just take our chances with pork. We go on eating whatever tastes good, that's how Filipinos are. Anyway, it's safe to eat pork now, we haven't heard much news of people getting hospitalized."

Agriculture officials have banned pork imports from Mexico, the U.S. and selected areas in Canada, but have declared pork safe to eat.

[Arthur Yap, Agriculture Secretary]:
"Philippine pork is safe to eat. We do not have an outbreak of swine influenza in the Philippines today."

Singapore also reports no major affect on pork consumption so far.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTDTV
• NTD
• swine flu
• Asia
• appetite
• pork
• healthy
• Manila
• Philippines
• products
• roasted pig
• lechon
• Filipino
• delicacy

[poolboyinla]

the Philippines is awesome

[krzero]

kung anu pinagsasabi mo tae ka gago

[alvarezarco]

haven't you notice? any strain of viruses never affect the filipino people? whats the reason why?? god loves the philippines among other asian country? haven't you heard of that. no AH1N1, super bug, avian flu, swine flu.

[TheCelestialTeacup]

Pork is fucking delicious.

[gracemae3005grace]

may nag sabi sakin merondaw siya alam na nag parasetamol lang gu aling na l0l LOL!!!

[student225]

yehey swine flu!!! 1 month pa ng bakasyon whooooooooooo!

[tmlagamon]

o sabay sabay tayo ha!

AH1N1 happy kaarawan

AH1N1 happy kaarawan

AH1N1 happy happy happy kaarawan!

hehehehe

[bacaca88]

First confirmed case in the Philippines of Swine Fever now. It will spead like wildfire as there are few controls and 1000's people are in close contact on jeepneys, etc.

[akinangpublico]

manok*..

[akinangpublico]

ung manol ba bawal kainin din..kz dati meron bird flu?..ehehe