With the help of the African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccines, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing to eradicate the spread of the fatal disease that affects hog industry in the country.
During the post-SONA discussions on Thursday, July 23, Agriculture Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel said that the agriculture department is targeting to inoculate first the areas that have been identified as red and yellow zones.
“Iyong ASF vaccine which was recently approved na once we have ASF vaccine which has recently approved ay baka ibi-bid out na ng DA ito this August at hopefully by September ma-implement na. Titirahin natin at babakunahan natin iyong mga red areas or red zones and yellow zones and hopefully to eradicate this for the pig growers (The ASF vaccine, which was recently approved, may be put out for bidding by the DA this August, with hopes of implementation by September. We will target and vaccinate the red areas or red zones and yellow zones, and hopefully, this will lead to eradication for the pig growers),” he said.
“With that, we are hopeful na ma-solve na unti-unti iyong issue sa ASF at hopefully by the end of [the] year, halos wala na sana ito (With that, we are hopeful that the ASF issue will be gradually resolved and, hopefully, by the end of the year, it will be nearly eradicated),” he added.
Areas identified as red zones are high risk or currently experiencing an outbreak of a specific agricultural disease, such as ASF.
Meanwhile, yellow zones are areas considered at moderate risk or are under surveillance for potential outbreaks.
ASF, according to Laurel, is a “big problem” of the pork industry and must be eradicated to improve the country’s agricultural production.
For commercial use
Recently, DA spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, said ASF vaccines may be available for commercial use this year.
“Kasi kailangan masigurado nang husto ng FDA at BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) ‘yung efficacy at ‘yung lahat ng test na gagawin nila rito (Because the FDA and BAI need to thoroughly ensure the efficacy and all the tests they will conduct). Target is within the year,” he said.
The BAI has allotted P350 million for the procurement of ASF vaccines, the DA spokesperson stated.
Laurel had earlier announced that the FDA granted approval for government use of the vaccine for six months.
He said the controlled use of the ASF vaccine may be rolled out by September.
The DA chief noted that the ASF from Vietnam “really works.”
“So, that solves our problem,” he went on.
During a town hall meeting in Occidental Mindoro in April, President Marcos said that the ASF vaccines would be obtained from Vietnam.
ASF, a highly contagious and deadly swine disease, has been devastating swine industries around the world since its resurgence in 2018.
In 2019, ASF resurfaced in the Philippines and has since spread across more than 3,800 barangays in 53 provinces by July 2022.
Due to ASF, local pork production in the Philippines fell by almost a fourth from June to October 2021 against the comparative period in 2020.