By Brian Campued
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will buy at least 600,000 doses of vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) before year end to curb the spread of the disease on hogs, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Laurel said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed to fast-track the rollout of the vaccines to restore hog owners’ confidence in swine farming.
“Kapag may confidence na ang mga magbababoy sa vaccine na ito, then they will start investing again in farms, pati iyong mga commercials natin at magri-repopulate,” he said, adding that the agency is targeting to increase the hog production to 14 million from the current 7.5 million.
According to the D.A. chief, the inoculation for the initial 10,000 doses is expected to be finished by the end of the month, with an additional 450,000 doses to be delivered early next month.
“The first 10,000 doses, the vaccination will be finished by the end of the month, and the schedule for the award for the next 450,000 doses is October 10, of which we will take delivery of 150,000 doses by then,” Laurel said.
“But we hope to complete the procurement of 600,000 doses by the end of December this year,” he added.
The D.A. launched its government-controlled vaccination program in backyard farms in Lobo, Batangas last August, and will be expanded in other areas in Visayas and Mindanao. — av