The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to roll out vaccines for African swine fever (ASF) starting Tuesday, August 20, in Batangas, according to DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.
This developed as the DA announced it is targeting to put up 800 to 1,000 permanent Kadiwa stores in the next four years to serve more people.
Laurel said at Malacañang Insider episode which aired yesterday the government has been securing the ASF vaccines through the emergency procurement system which would continue until next month.
“Luckily, our supplier donated 2,000 doses which will arrive on Friday. Hopefully, our target is to start the vaccination by Tuesday next week,” he said.
Laurel also said a new indemnification program is also in place for the affected livestock sector wherein for those with small pigs, P4,000; medium, P8,000; and big, P12,000.
Laurel said the vaccine rollout will address the spread of ASF in several affected towns of Batangas and prevent it from further spreading. Eight municipalities in Batangas have declared a state of emergency, including Lobo, Lian, Calatagan, Rosario, Lipa, Talisay, San Juan, and Tuy.
He said the DA is also implementing measures to control the spread of ASF such as the setting up checkpoint and inspection stations in the eight municipalities.
He said DA is also strengthening the country’s laboratories and research to locally manufacture vaccines in the near future.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday met with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) whose members offered their cold storage facilities to accommodate the ASF vaccines. These facilities will be preliminary hubs for vaccine distribution, streamlining the process.
During the meeting, the Council recommended a contained rollout of AVAC vaccines in isolated areas, focusing on backyard and select large commercial farms.
The Council emphasized the need to fast-track the review and assessment of the MSD1 vaccine which it said offers promising potential for providing additional immunity for breeder populations, thereby completing the immunity cycle and bolstering overall industry protection.
The President told the Council breeders will be prioritized in the vaccine distribution, underscoring the importance of safeguarding this critical segment to ensure the overall resilience and stability of the industry.
As this developed, Laurel said DA is targeting to put up 800 to 1,000 permanent Kadiwa stores in the next four years to serve more people.
He said DA is also planning to open Kadiwa franchising to private operators or cooperatives, and standardize the outlets’ operating hours and days as well as carry out information dissemination.
“Kapag na-establish na naman.
There are 230 Kadiwa sites currently operating all over the country, with 17 under regular operation.
