Some Batangas livestock farmers lower cattle prices due to Taal Volcano activity

Some farmers in Agoncillo, Batangas were already selling their livestock at disadvantageous prices due to the impact of the ongoing activity of Taal Volcano.

According to a report by Raffy Tima on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Tuesday, these farmers were reducing prices of livestock such as goats and cattle, with cattle which used to fetch P50,000 now going for P10,000, for instance. Others would offer their livestock at just 20% of the usual price, just to make a sale.

Archie de Leon, a buy-and-sell livestock entrepreneur and livestock farmer himself in Agoncillo, said he will not take advantage of the situation to purchase animals at low prices.

“Ayaw ko rin samantalahin ang kahinaan ng tao na mababa na nga ang presyo, babaratin mo pa,” he said, adding he will wait for the situation to normalize before engaging again in the buy and sell business.

De Leon’s home is located at the border of Agoncillo, which is on total lockdown. Due to this, he is able to return to his house daily, from an evacuation center where he is staying, to feed his pigs without being barred by authorities.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday ordered a stop to the implementation of window hours for Batangas residents who want to get their belongings and check on their animals.

Some residents however insisted on entering their towns, finding ways to get in without being caught by watchers.

In Agoncillo, there were still some vehicles in line at the entrance to the town on Tuesday, hoping that the lockdown would be lifted even for just a few hours. Compared to the number in the past few days, those waiting on Tuesday morning to get in were fewer.

Other Agoncillo residents entered via Lemery before the break of dawn on Tuesday, avoiding the checkpoint at the entrance to Agoncillo, just to feed their livestock whom they said have not eaten anything in two days, according to a report by Mark Makalalad of Super Radyo dzBB on GMA News' Unang Balita.

These residents were on motorcycles and brought with them animal feeds, and said they do not mind the longer and rocky route via Lemery just to get to Agoncillo.

Authorities earlier put a log on the road to discourage residents from using the alternate route, but the determined among the residents took this away.

Alert Level 4 remains on Tuesday over Taal Volcano, a week after its phreatic eruption on Jan. 12. Since then the volcano has spewed lava fountains and plumes of ash and smoke.

The province of Batangas was placed under a state of calamity on January 13, as well as nearby Cavite on January 15. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News