The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the incidence of African swine fever (ASF) in the country has gone down to only 935 cases in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the peak of 3,060 cases in the third quarter of 2020.
DA Secretary William Dar said measures meant to control the spread of ASF as well as repopulation and recovery programs of the local hog industry are being sustained.
“We have linked with about nine companies to undertake trial tests of ASF vaccines in the country, one of which is the Zoetis Inc., the largest producer of medicine and vaccination for pets and livestock,” Dar said at yesterday’s government-led Sulong Pilipinas pre-SONA virtual briefing.
Under its three-year repopulation program, sentinel pigs placed in formerly infected areas are deployed and monitored to check if they will show signs and symptoms of the disease.
The agency said the three-year program targets to produce 10.5 million finisher hogs with a total value of P157 billion and carcass equivalent of 738,805 metric tons.
The program also aims to declare before the end of 2023 ASF-free 90 percent or 2,100 of previously affected barangays. It will also provide insurance for 8.5 million finisher hogs and 1.5 million breeder hogs for the period.
The DA projects a shortfall of over 380,000 metric tons (MT) of pork this year due to ASF but senators, citing a 10-year historical data from the DA, said the gap is only 125,000 MT.
Based on data from DA’s Bantay Presyo, as of last April 23, the prevailing per kg price of pork kasim is P370 and of liempo, P380 per kg and at a low of P360 but at a high of P420.
