AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee urged the government to prioritize the vaccination of local hogs against the African swine fever (ASF), which continues to decimate the local supply since its resurgence in 2018.
“Nananawagan tayo para sa ating hog raisers. Ngayong inaasahan nating magiging available na ang bakuna kontra-ASF, sana ay umaksyon agad ang pamahalaan para makakuha ng supply at maipamahagi ito sa ating mga stakeholder sa lalong madaling panahon,” Lee said.
Local agriculture product KPP Powers Commodities is currently conducting safety and efficacy trials using the AVAC ASF Live Vaccine developed by AVAC Vietnam Co. Ltd. in four farms in the country. The clinical trials, which are expected to be completed in April, is being done under the supervision of the Bureau of Animal Industry.
According to recent reports, the Vietnamese government will soon start nationwide distribution of the AVAC ASF vaccine after producing highly favorable results from more than 600,000 doses administered in field trials since July 2022.
“Makakatulong ang nationwide vaccination drive para matulungan ang ating mga hog raiser na labanan ang pagkalat ng ASF. Kagaya ng matagumpay na pagtugon natin sa Covid-19 sa pamamagitan ng pagbabakuna, naniniwala tayong epektibong solusyon din ito para sa ASF,” Lee said.
The lawmaker highlighted the urgency of ASF vaccination, as he said ASF has caused supply shortfalls that have resulted in the jacking up of pork prices. This, in turn, has an effect on inflation, he added.
“Winner Tayo Lahat kung masusugpo natin ang ASF sa bansa. Hindi lang ang livestock industry, kundi pati pamilyang Pilipino na hirap sa presyo ng mga bilihin ay mabibigyan ng ginhawa,” the solon also said.
The Department of Agriculture recently reported that there are active ASF cases in 75 barangays in 42 municipalities in 12 provinces in seven regions as of February 2. These provinces include Cagayan, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Northern Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.
The DA also said that the cumulative number of affected areas since the breakout of ASF in the country in 2019 up to the present reached 4,308 barangays in 788 municipalities in 59 provinces in 15 regions.
Since the first outbreak of the virus in September 2019, and by June 2021, the Philippines’ total hog population had already declined by half to 6.6 million pigs from 13 million pre-ASF
