By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Cynthia Villar is calling for the urgent approval of a vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to combat the ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak that has devastated the local hog industry.
“The spread of ASF could have been mitigated if the country had implemented a first border control system. Additionally, having FDA-approved vaccines for hogs available would have been crucial in preventing this outbreak,” Villar emphasized.
During a public hearing, key stakeholders from the agriculture sector—including government agencies, mayors of affected municipalities, the private sector, and farmers—discussed urgent measures to halt the spread of the disease, according to Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food.
She also stressed the need for a long-term solution, saying that an FDA-approved vaccine is essential for addressing the lasting effects of ASF.
“The ASF, a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting domestic hogs, was first detected in the Philippines in 2019. Five years later, it continues to plague the swine industry, causing severe losses in hog populations,” she noted.
The ASF outbreak in Lobo, Batangas, was first reported on July 16, 2024. By August 2024, the municipality had declared a state of calamity due to the severity of the outbreak.
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