The Department of Agriculture is in contact with Vietnam for trials of African swine fever (ASF) vaccines.
In a presser on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that there is also a vaccine against ASF in Vietnam and they are already in contact with the country to have a trial here in the Philippines.
“Ang UK [United Kingdom] din na last year pa, nagpapasabi tayo na kung available na ito ay mag-trial din tayo sa bansa at ganoon din sa Vietnam. We are now touching base with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food sa Vietnam para agad-agad ay mai-trial at magamit na yung bakuna para sa ASF,” said Dar.
One reason for the shortage of pork supply is the impact of ASF in the Philippines, which according to hog raisers has affected their businesses, even the price of pork in some markets.
According to Dar, about 500,000 pigs have been culled or killed due to ASF, and backyard hog raisers are most affected.
Dar added the production of rapid test kits for African swine fever has been completed at Central Luzon State University and the agency will start mass production starting in February.
DA in talks with Vietnam for possible ASF vaccine
“Ito ay gagamitin na, itong February we will be mass-producing it at gagamitin doon sa monitoring and surveillance kahit wala pang sakit ay ito na yung mag-pool testing at mas makikinabang ang hog raisers para dito sa rapid test kit,” said Agriculture chief William Dar.
Authorities will also intensify monitoring and surveillance, as well as quarantine checkpoints to ensure that frozen meat with ASF can no longer enter the country.
The DA will also study the request of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. zero percent tariff for imported pork in response to domestic pork demand.
Dar said this will be discussed, as well as measures to lower the tariff on imported pork which is currently at 40 percent outside the minimum access volume and 30 percent within 54,000 metric tons of minimum access volume.
For now, the agency’s recommendation to implement a price freeze for pork and poultry is still pending in Malacañang.