P1 billion sought for ASF vaccination in minor hog farms

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November 6, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A P1-billion budget is needed to vaccinate hogs in small-scale farms and piggeries nationwide to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF), according to the Department of Agriculture.

DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said one of the agency’s requests for 2027 is to secure vaccines for small-scale hog raisers.

De Mesa said the vaccination program would prioritize those who do not have the financial capability to purchase the vaccine.

The DA made the request following the approval for commercial distribution of the Vietnam-made AVAC vaccine in September.

The agency conducted a government-controlled vaccination at registered hog farms in 2024 after the Food and Drug Administration issued a certificate of product registration for the AVAC vaccine.

De Mesa said another ASF vaccine from South Korea is being reviewed by the DA, but no specific timeline for its approval has been set yet.

The DA said it is looking for alternative vaccine suppliers to sustain efforts to curb ASF.

As of Oct. 22, there were still 238 barangays with active ASF cases, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.