The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday (May 19) rolled out ₱600 million for the distribution of sentinel pigs in areas hard-hit by African swine fever (ASF).
According to the department, hog raisers can begin repopulating if the sentinel piglets live, which further means that the ASF virus is no longer present in their respective areas.
“The ‘sentinel approach’ is the limited placement of pigs to ascertain if there is still ASF virus present in a test area,” the DA explained in an article.
In relation to this, President Rodrigo Duterte on May 10 declared a nationwide state of calamity due to the ASF outbreak because it has decimated the local hog industry and allied industries.
READ MORE: Duterte places PH under state of calamity due to ASF outbreak
Meanwhile, the ASF vaccine clinical trial is currently being conducted in 10 commercial farms across the country.
READ MORE: Pagbabakuna laban sa ASF, sinimulan na ng BAI
Report from Cleizl Padilla/NGS-jlo
