Swine-raising industry groups are calling on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to accelerate the vaccination process against African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease that has devastated the hog industry for several years.
Despite recognizing the DA’s efforts in containing ASF, the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP), National Federation of Hog Farmers (NFHF) and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (PPFP) expressed their desire for a swifter inoculation program.
“Hog raisers have already lost millions due to ASF,” said AGAP Partylist Rep. Nick Briones. “We need a faster process to protect our livelihoods.”
The DA-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) launched last week the government-controlled ASF vaccination program in Lobo, Batangas. This marked a significant milestone in the fight against the disease, which first broke out in the Philippines in 2019.
While the NFHF and PPFP expressed optimism about the vaccine’s effectiveness, they emphasized the need for a more widespread and efficient vaccination rollout.
“Backyard hog raisers are struggling,” said Rolando Tambago of PPFP. “They need priority access to the vaccine.”
The groups also called for the deputization of vaccinators in local governments, in collaboration with agriculture cooperatives and private veterinarians. They also advocated for accredited laboratories to conduct blood testing on swine as a preventive measure against ASF.
The groups also urged the DA and Food and Drug Administration to allow the commercial use of the ASF vaccine to ensure wider access and protection for more pigs.
The DA reiterated its commitment to the vaccination program, emphasizing that pigs to be vaccinated should meet specific health requirements. About 458 villages in 15 regions are now under ASF red zones, with North Cotabato, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas and Quezon reporting the highest number of affected barangays.
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