Hog raisers on Monday welcomed the legislative proposal realigning a portion or P1.5 billion in intelligence funds for the purchase of vaccine against the African swine fever.
This developed even as industry leaders pointed out the realigned funds fall short of the funding needed to rid the industry of the virus that has gripped backyard and commercial raisers alike.
Danilo Fausto, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAF) president, in a broadcast interview, also said once the efficacy of the vaccine from Vietnam is proven, the government should make it available to backyard raisers to help the industry recover faster.
“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.
Nick Briones, AGAP party list representative and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines chairman, said the vaccines are the best remedy against ASF although this has not yet been tested on domestic sows and breeders.
Thus far, the vaccine from Vietnam has only been tested on starters and not on fatteners sold in markets.
“Hopefully, the next generation of vaccines will be tested on fatteners and challenged, which means those vaccinated are exposed to infected hogs,” Briones added.
Deogracias Victor Savellano, Department of Agriculture undersecretary for livestock, said in a forum hosted by Stratbase ADR Institute, the agency is ensuring bio-security while waiting for the authorities to certify the ASF vaccine.
Savellano said resolving regulatory matters for veterinary feeds, drugs and biologicals, including vaccines, is necessary to encourage more investments in the agriculture sector, ultimately ensuring food security.
“The government wants to have coherent policies and definite answers to the stakeholders in agriculture. By having these, we hope to make them invest more. The regulatory matters have to be aligned to get the private sector to produce more food and ensure food security for the nation,” Savellano said.
The DA at this point looks to ramp up domestic livestock production five times by 2028 but did not provide details.
Prior to the ASF infections in 2019, the hog population was estimated at some 13 million heads and has since dipped to around 10 million, with imported pork filling the gap.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show a pork sufficiency ratio of only 69.6 percent in 2022.
Earlier, the National Sectoral Committee on Poultry and Livestock passed a resolution recommending the Food and Drug Administration and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to report on the importation of 300,000 doses of ASF vaccine and its dissemination.
BAI data show that as of September 30, 10 regions, 18 provinces, 44 municipalities and 97 barangays have active ASF cases.
