DA to finish ASF vaccine procurement in October

MANILA, Philippines — The procurement of all 600,000 doses of vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) is expected to be completed next month, according to the Department of Agriculture.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that validation continues for the ongoing vaccination of hogs in Lobo, Batangas, the “ground zero” of the outbreaks, and other provinces affected by ASF.

“Validation of areas in and outside Lobo is ongoing so we can utilize the entire 10,000 doses for the vaccination of pigs,” De Mesa said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier approved the release of at least P350 million for the procurement of 600,000 doses of ASF vaccine.

“We expect to finish the procurement of the remaining balance of the 600,000 vaccine doses (next month), so the vaccination will be finished by December,” De Mesa said.

The 10,000 doses of ASF vaccine were acquired through emergency procurement amid  reported outbreaks in several areas in Batangas.

The purchase of the remaining 590,000 doses is being done under the normal procurement process of the DA.

Stakeholders have asked Tiu Laurel to deputize them in the hog vaccination program being conducted by the Bureau of Animal Industry, an attached agency of the DA.

“We have a limited number of veterinarians. Stakeholders requested to deputize veterinarians from local government units, academe and the animal industry to hasten the vaccination of hogs,” De Mesa said.

He said the DA is planning to tap private laboratories in the testing of pigs to determine if the animals are healthy and qualified for vaccination.

“These are very important steps to ensure that the vaccination will continue smoothly,” he said.

Up to 41 hogs in Lobo were reportedly inoculated when the controlled vaccination started on Aug. 30.

Meanwhile, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has warned of shortage in the supply of pork in 2025 due to ASF.

SINAG chairman Rosendo So assured consumers of adequate pork supply only until the holiday season.

So said the shortage is expected next year as hograisers are compelled to sell early their hogs that are supposed to be slaughtered in January and February for fear that