The Bureau of Animal Industry has approved AVAC ASF LIVE—developed by AVAC Vietnam—as the first African Swine Fever vaccine for commercial sale in the Philippines, nearly seven years after the 2019 outbreak cut the national hog herd from 13 million to roughly 8 million heads. A second candidate vaccine, PROVAC from South Korea, is undergoing evaluation and may be available next year. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. called the approval vital to the government’s repopulation program, offering hog raisers a new tool alongside surveillance, biosecurity, and movement controls to restore production. Outbreaks have struck 76 of 82 provinces, hitting backyard farms hardest; Livestock Undersecretary Constante J. Palabrica has sought ₱1 billion in 2027 funding to subsidize vaccine access for smallholders. While the vaccine is not a silver bullet, it marks a major step toward stabilizing pork supplies, reducing import reliance, and easing consumer price pressures.
DA clears first ASF vaccine for commercial use, aiding swine recovery
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