SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) MIMAROPA is soon to conduct an African Swine Fever (ASF) information caravan in Occidental Mindoro.
ASF Regional Coordinator Francisco Vida said that the initiative aims to correct misconceptions about the disease and its vaccine, help hog raisers avoid dealing with smuggled ASF vaccines, and guide them in deciding whether to resume and expand hog-raising operations.
He said the upcoming caravan will include the DA’s guidelines for distributing the ASF vaccine, citing that hog farms in the province must implement biosecurity measures, conduct farm monitoring, and adhere to surveillance protocols.
Vida emphasized that hog raisers need to complete specific documentation, including a letter expressing their intent to use the ASF vaccine.
This letter must be signed by their municipal government, indicating that an evaluation has been conducted and the hog raiser has met the requirements before submitting the documents to the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
The PVO in turn will ensure that all submitted documents comply with the DA’s guidelines and protocols before endorsing them to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
“Sa information caravan, malalaman din ng mga stakeholder kung ano ang mga plano at hakbang ng pamahalaan para resolbahin ang problema sa ASF,” Vida said.
(Through the Information Caravan, stakeholders will also learn about the government’s plans and actions to address the ASF problem.)
He also expressed a pressing concern regarding ASF, which is the rise of smuggled vaccines being sold at inflated prices.
He clarified that under the government’s program, vaccines are provided at no cost to eligible hog raisers who follow the required protocols.
Vida warned that using smuggled ASF vaccines constitutes deceit and fraud, especially when unlicensed vaccines are administered.
“Dapat lamang na ang tangkilikin na vaccine ay ang inilabas ng pamahalaan dahil ito ay napatunayan ng epektibo sa ilang lugar,” he reminded hog raisers.
(Only vaccines issued by the government should be trusted, as they have been proven effective in several areas.)
Vida encouraged local hog raisers to participate in the government’s vaccination program for their livestock and conveyed optimism that the info caravan would help them better understand the steps needed to revitalize the swine industry in the province. (VND/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro/Photos from San Jose MAO)
