Photo credit: PCO

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is doubling down on efforts to combat African swine fever (ASF) by pushing for better biosecurity measures and livestock consolidation alongside the ongoing vaccination campaign.

During a meeting with the Regional Development Council III in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Marcos stressed that backyard piggeries pose a major challenge in controlling the spread of the virus.

“The key to that is consolidation. Mayroon tayong ginagawa sa consolidation kasi pagka-backyard, mahirap kontrolin ‘yung biosecurity,” he said.

His vision? A biosecure facility where hogs can be raised in a controlled environment. But he acknowledged that getting farmers to give up their backyard operations won’t be easy.

Vaccination Alone Isn’t Enough

While the vaccination drive is showing promise, the President emphasized that without proper biosecurity, the virus could still threaten future pig stocks.

Agriculture Undersecretary-designate for Livestock Constante J. Palabrica assured Marcos that biosecurity measures are being implemented and that farmers are being educated on best practices.

So far, the numbers are looking good—Palabrica reported that 50,000 hogs have already been vaccinated, with a total of 500,000 doses purchased. Of these, nearly 200,000 will be used in Region 3.

“We’re getting good results,” Palabrica said. “Once the Bureau of Animal Industry compiles all the data, we will submit it to the FDA for further evaluation and eventual full approval of the vaccine.”

A Tough Battle, But Progress is Being Made

ASF has been a major problem for the Philippine hog industry, but the government is ramping up its efforts to contain the disease. With stricter biosecurity measures, consolidation of pig farms, and an expanding vaccination program, Marcos hopes to finally turn the tide against ASF.

The challenge now? Convincing more backyard farmers to get on board with the plan.