DA hopes ASF problem resolved by end of 2024 amid vaccine rollout

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday expressed optimism that African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been devastating local pork industry since 2019, will be resolved by the end of the year as the government aims to start the rollout of ASF vaccines by September.

At the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) forum in Pasay City, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the ASF vaccine was recently approved for a six-month government use for mass trial.

“We will bid this out this August and hopefully by September we can implement it,” the Agriculture chief said.

Tiu Laurel said the DA will initially vaccinate swines in ASF red and yellow zones.

“With that, we are hopeful na ma-solve na paunti unti itong issue sa ASF. Hopefully by the end of the year halos wala na,” he said.

In his third SONA, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the government is ready to roll out the ASF vaccines.

“Handa na rin ang pamahalaan na ilabas ang mga bakuna laban sa African Swine Fever na magpapalakas sa mga alagang hayop, at magbibigay ng garantiya sa mga magsasaka laban sa pagkalugi,” Marcos said.

(The government is ready to roll out the vaccines against the African Swine Fever which would strengthen our animals and would prevent losses to our farmers.)

Tiu Laurel said the DA is now crafting the terms of reference for the procurement of the ASF vaccines.

He said the procurement will be an open bidding, but “as of the moment there’s only one accredited vaccine.”

“Most probably they will secure the contract… there are no other competitors at the moment,” he added.

During Marcos' state visit to Vietnam last January, officials of the DA spoke with their counterparts about the availability of the vaccines.

In 2023, Vietnam exported two million vaccine doses against African swine fever to the Philippines after it had approved domestic use of the world's first commercial vaccines against the disease.

The vaccines to be procured will be used for a six-month mass trial.

“After six months of mass trials, if there’ll be no problems, it will be good for commercial use,” the Agriculture chief said.

ASF, a highly contagious disease for hogs, has been decimating swine populations in the country since its detection in 2019.

As of April this year, pork supplied by local raisers declined to 752.95 metric tons from 3,114 metric tons year-on-year, according to data from the National Meat Inspection Service. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News