DA: ASF vaccines for Batangas may arrive in Sept

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday that the African swine fever (ASF) vaccines purchased through emergency procurement may arrive in September. This came after the municipalities of Lobo and Calatagan in Batangas declared a state of calamity due to the ASF outbreak in their areas. In Lobo alone, 8,818 mortalities have been logged due to ASF as of July 31. 'Kapag emergency procurement po, iyong ibang mga steps wala na po iyon (If it's emergency procurement, other steps can be eliminated). Within September kaya po iyan (it's feasible),' DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a radio interview, citing a faster procedure than the standard bidding process. The DA earlier said it needs at least 10,000 initial doses of ASF vaccines for areas affected in Batangas. 'Iyong problema natin dito, hindi lang sa Lobo. Mayroong mga bagong cases ngayon sa (Our problem is not just in Lobo. There are new cases in) Lian, Rosario, Calatagan, including Lipa City,' De Mesa added, pointing to the resurgence amid the rainy season. Besides the emergency procurement of ASF vaccines, the DA has already assured the implementation of more stringent biosecurity measures, the distribution of industrial lime, and mass testing. 'We will be doing mass testing ng baboy. Lahat ng baboy na nag-test ng negative, ilalabas natin ng (of swine. All hogs that will be negative in ASF will be removed from) Batangas,' DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a separate interview. The DA aims to start rolling out its government-controlled vaccinations in the third quarter of the year, with an initial 150,000 doses of ASF AVAC live vaccines. Overall, it has allocated PHP350 million to procure 600,000 doses of ASF vaccines. Source : Philippines News agency