THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to expand the rollout of the African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccine beyond Batangas, with new strategies being implemented to expedite the process, Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Deogracias Victor Savellano announced on Monday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Meat Safety Consciousness Week, Savellano said they are working to accelerate the vaccination program, aiming to utilize 10,000 doses of the vaccine by November.
“Secretary [Francisco Tiu Laurel] and I talked the other day, and we really have to expedite rollout as we have a commitment to use up 10,000 doses of the vaccine by November,” Savellano said.
Since the vaccine rollout began, less than a thousand swine in Lobo and Lipa, Batangas, have been inoculated. Savellano attributed the slow pace to the requirement of blood testing to confirm that swine are ASF-free before vaccination.
“We will implement new strategies, where regional directors will proactively look for farms interested in having the vaccine,” he explained.
He acknowledged that small backyard owners have been hesitant to participate due to the culling of infected pigs after testing. However, Savellano assured that while testing remains a crucial part of the vaccination process, they are exploring alternative approaches.
The expansion of the ASF vaccination program beyond Batangas is a positive step towards mitigating the devastating impact of the disease on the country’s swine industry. The DA’s commitment to implementing new strategies and addressing concerns of small-scale farmers is crucial to ensuring the successful rollout of the vaccine and protecting the livelihoods of those involved in the pork industry.
