The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas is set to convene local government unit (LGU) leaders across the region to assess the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF) on hog farmers. The meeting aims to gather reports from affected farmers to determine the number of vaccines needed to prevent another outbreak in the region.
Dr. Jonic Natividad, Chief of the DA Western Visayas Regulatory Division, revealed that the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is finalizing guidelines for the vaccine roll-out. “In Western Visayas, we will convene with local government units to assess how many vaccines are needed. This will be based on reports from both LGUs and potential partners. As of now, there is no exact number,” Natividad stated.
Natividad further emphasized the importance of the vaccines in preventing the ASF virus from spreading in Western Visayas. The guidelines will specify where the vaccines will be available, who will be eligible to receive them, and who will be prioritized.
Natividad clarified that the available vaccines are limited, and DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. has requested the initial 10,000 doses to be allocated to Batangas to contain a recent ASF outbreak among pigs in the area.
Seventy-seven LGUs in Western Visayas have reported ASF cases, according to BAI. The DA’s Sentinel Program involves distributing piglets for a 40-day trial to see if they can survive without contracting the virus. If they survive, they will be returned to the farmers. However, if the piglets die and are diagnosed with ASF, the farmers must conduct cleaning and disinfection.
