The Department of Agriculture (DA) has proactively established a technical working group (TWG) to review and update the national African Swine Fever (ASF) prevention and control program. Special Order (SO) 551, issued on 3 April 2025 tasks the group with revising strategies, guidelines, and protocols, ensuring they align with both local and international standards.
Led by Dr. Christian Daquigan, officer-in-charge at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the TWG will leverage recent advancements in ASF research to enhance the program first implemented in 2020. The group’s duties include drafting new technical guidelines, revising standards, and assisting in the development of an operations manual, with funding from the National ASF Prevention and Control Program.
The move comes as the DA is working towards restoring the country’s hog population to pre-ASF levels, with a plan to produce an additional 2 million hogs annually by 2028. This effort is supported by commitments from major commercial hog producers.
