MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is studying proposals for President Marcos to declare a state of calamity amid the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the country.
In a radio interview, DA spokesperson Kristine Evangelista was reacting to the call of AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones, who said the declaration would ensure that funds are allocated for the importation of ASF vaccines.
“As of now we are coordinating with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on the issue,” Evangelista said.
She said Briones may be referring to the quick response fund of the DA, which may be tapped for emergency purposes.
Evangelista gave assurance that the DA and BAI are looking at ways to help hog raisers secure ASF vaccines.
She stressed that the DA is implementing other measures to prevent the spread of the swine disease.
BAI assistant director Arlene Vytiaco said the agency is targeting the importation of 600,000 doses of ASF vaccines this year once the Food and Drug Administration issues a certificate of product registration.
Evangelista said the DA and BAI have yet to determine the price of the vaccine.
National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president Chester Tan said the government should subsidize the cost of ASF vaccines since pork producers cannot afford the reported price of P400 to P600 per dose.
Pork production
Meanwhile, the DA is hoping that pork production will sustain its upward trend despite the spread of ASF.
In its latest livestock and poultry update, the United States DA-Foreign Agriculture Service Manila slashed the country’s pork production forecast from 975,000 metric tons to 925,000 MT due to ASF.
While second quarter pork production data has yet to be released, DA Undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations Mercedita Sombilla said the DA is optimistic that pork production would increase this year.
The Philippine Statistics Authority said hog production recorded a 5.1 percent improvement during the first quarter compared to the 1.2 percent contraction during the same period last year.
The DA said it is banking on its ongoing programs for the hog industry such as the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives For Recovery and Expansion or INSPIRE and the Bantay ASF sa Barangay or BABay ASF programs. – Danessa Rivera