41 hogs in Batangas first to get ASF vaccine

MANILA, Philippines —   Forty-one pigs in Lobo, Batangas were vaccinated against African swine fever yesterday as the Department of Agriculture (DA) rolled out 10,000 doses of vaccine to contain the spread of ASF in the country.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said in an interview that the 41 pigs were from Barangay Mapalad na Parang in Lobo, Batangas.

“We started with 41 piglets and will transfer to other farms. This (vaccination) will continue. After Lobo, we will go to other municipalities of Batangas. We will start the validation of other sites so that we can consume the entire 10,000 doses (of ASF vaccine),” de Mesa said.

He added that the DA, Bureau of Animal Industry and several Batangas local government units aim to complete the vaccination by next week.

“So far, the vaccination was smooth. We conducted a technical briefing. The owner of the farm was very cooperative. Actually, the farmers are very receptive. They were happy that their hogs will be finally vaccinated,” de Mesa said.

After Batangas, the DA will proceed to the nearby provinces of Quezon and Laguna and other red zone areas to complete the vaccination drive.

“After 14 days, the vaccinated hogs will be tested, and then the hogs will be tested again after 28 days, 60 days and then after 120 days,” De Mesa said, referring to the monitoring that must be done.

Representatives from the Food and Drug Administration, the National Federation of Hog Raisers, and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines chairperson and AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones were also present to witness the vaccination.

In Negros Occidental, provincial veterinarian Placeda Lemana said the province remains ASF-free amid reports of a resurgence of the viral disease in a town in neighboring Negros Oriental.

Negros Occidental is still banning the entry of hogs and pork-related products from Panay, Guimaras, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Luzon and Mindanao provinces due to ASF threats. – Gilbert Bayoran