Groups of hog raisers have expressed alarm over the reported African Swine Fever (ASF) incidents in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, considering the impact it would bring to nearby areas which provide supply to Metro Manila.
At least 600,000 hogs have been culled due to ASF.
“Dapat mapigil, dahil kung hindi, lalo tayong magkakaroon ng kakulangan (It should be quelled. Otherwise we would have further shortage [of supply]),” Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines VP Nicanor Briones raised.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has been boosting biosecurity, with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) set to speak with local government units for the creation of strict anti-ASF ordinances.
Aside from Disease Control and Prevention Program, talks are ongoing with Vietnam and the United Kingdom for the country’s inclusion to their ASF vaccine clinical trials.
The DA is also coordinating with the agriculture department of the United States for the acquisition of technology to create local ASF vaccines.
“Kung nandiyan ‘yung technology, nandiyan ang facility, ‘yun po lahat po ‘yun. If we will have all those things, kaya po ‘yun this year (If there is the technology and facility, that will be all. If we will have all those things, we can do it this year),” BAI Dir. Reildrin Morales said.
There is currently no licensed ASF vaccine available in the market. Studies conducted by the BAI are ongoing amid the reported mutation of ASF virus in China due to the use of unauthorized vaccine product. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
