Hog, agri groups stress need to vaccinate pigs to end ASF

Hog industry and agriculture groups on Monday underscored the need to vaccinate pigs to end African swine fever cases.

In a press release, the groups lauded lawmakers' plan to allocate P1.5 billion for the vaccination of hogs to eradicate the main problem in the swine industry.

“That is the best solution: Have an effective vaccine [against ASF]. But right now, nothing has been tested on sows and breeders… they are the ones that produce pigs,” said Congressman Nick Briones, chairman of the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines or Pro-Pork.

Briones said the available vaccine from Vietnam had only been tested on starters but not on fatteners, which were being sold in the market.

“Hopefully, the next generation of the vaccines will be tested on fatteners and challenged, which means those vaccinated are exposed to infected hogs,” Briones added.

The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations decided to channel P1.5 billion for vaccine initiatives to combat the ASF.

Before ASF hit the Philippines in 2019, the pig population of the country was estimated at around 13 million heads, the groups said.

The population has decreased to around 10 million, with imported pork filling the gap.

Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc., said once the efficacy of Vietnam's ASF vaccine was proven, the government should make it available to backyard raisers to help revive the industry.

“The P1.5 billion definitely isn’t enough. But it could be used for pump priming as we wait for the vaccine from Vietnam,” Fausto said.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Deogracias Victor Sevillano noted that until a vaccine was proven effective, the agency’s focus was to promote biosecurity protocols to contain the spread of the virus.

“We need the cooperation of LGUs for the implementation of the protocols that we will implement to stop the spread of ASF,” Sevillano had said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News