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Hmm, expert? Not me, but I do have a few thoughts about the whole ASF thing.
1. As of the latest report date (January 19) there are still active cases of the disease in Negros Oriental, in Ayungun and Tanjay (see picture).
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2. It is an incredibly contagious disease, that spreads very easily. It is caused by a virus that is not dangerous to humans, but all the more so for Pigs (wild and domestic). It can kill any infected pig within a week. The problem is that it spreads not only from pig to pig, but also through pork meat, whether raw, frozen, dried or -under-cooked. Moreover, it can spread through a certain family of ticks, which is why it is probably almost impossible to eridicate the disease once it has become endemic in an area.
3. There is a vaccine, developed in Vietnam, but I am not aware that it is being widely used and/or available.
4. Basically the measures being applied (culling, no transport, keep out meat from infected areas, etc.) are in my view mitigation efforts, they won't get rid of the disease.
5. The Philippine government has extended its "lower import tariff" for pork for another year, all through 2024, in an effort to stabilize the consumer price of pork.
6. The cultural thing in the Philippines of slaughtering pigs/piglets in uncontrolled environments (the Lechon thing) will definitely not help to bring ASF under control.

 

I retired to the Philippines in 2016, after testing the waters a year earlier. Sold/donated everything I owned except for what would fit in three large balikbayan boxes, and never looked back.
My decision to move here was mostly inspired by three things: love, the much better social acceptance of a fair sized age gap here, and the existence of a favourable tax treaty between my home country and the Philippines.
That last part enabled us to buy a nice house and live a good life here. Happily together for 7 and a half years now.
View attachment upload_2023-7-25_9-31-46.jpeg
Obviously, life here has its ups and downs like everywhere, but our little oasis of quiet within a short distance of everything we need helps.
As for "many having missed the boat" as far as property prices go, yes prices have gone up quite a bit over the past 5 years or so, but there's still a considerable price gap with most places in Europe. At around 5 to 6 million peso one can still find/build a fairly nice house here, less than that as you look further away from Dumaguete. If looking for a rental rather than buying a place, 20-30k a month is the going rate for a reasonably attractive 2-3 bed rental with aircon within Dumaguete.

 

Maybe you should meet a few more builders here before you continue to crap all over people you don't know.

In the 12 years I've been here I didn't notice collapsed building all over the place. There were some pretty severely damaged buildings from a 6.9 earthquake which is understandable.
People here listen to you and come to believe a carpenter here can't even install a door lock set. When my carpenter was making some mortice and tenon joints for a door he fit the pieces together then took them apart and started to shave away bits of wood. I asked him why he was doing that, they fit perfect. His answer; "I need room for the glue". People here have skills. He cut the cornice molding over my cupboards with a handsaw. I couldn't make that cut with a $1500 compound angle miter saw.
If there are failures due to the crappy materials available here it not right to blame the failures on the builder.

Your Sir Dave need to get out and meet more people before you crap on everyone.

 

We enjoyed our evening there last night. As a previous poster mentioned very surprised once door opened to see the amazing decor and red colours, certainly different.
The Spanish owner was very open an attentive, he was often at table clearing plates away an chatting. Very nice guy.
Beware the portions are enormous, biggest experienced, after we shared a starter both of us were full. We did partake in a main how ever left totally full. Owner treated us to a coffee an a Spanish snaps before leaving.
One thing to note is the emphasis is definitely on karaoke which may not suit everyone, as soon as 8pm came he gave my partner a song book an encouraged her to sing. We are not into this but many could well be.
It was very quiet, we had the large resto pretty much alone.
Quality of food was fresh an good, for our tastes would of preferred it spiced up, still this could be Spanish style, you will not leave hungry.....

 

Showing pictures of a dead man in an endless loop is not an opinion, it is degrading the victim. that's the reason I do not like it.