The Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting to roll out vaccines for African Swine Fever (ASF) on Tuesday next week, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

In an interview with the Malacañang Insider on Thursday, Laurel said the vaccine rollout will address the spread of ASF in several affected towns of Batangas and prevent further spread.

“Luckily iyong ating supplier nag-donate ng 2,000 doses at darating dito sa Biyernes at hopefully ang target namin is maumpisahan na iyong pagbakuna by Tuesday next week,” Laurel said.

Laurel said they have been procuring the vaccines through the emergency procurement system. He added that the procurement could continue until next month.

Eight municipalities in Batangas have declared a state of emergency, including Lobo, Lian, Calatagan, Rosario, Lipa, Talisay, San Juan, and Tuy.

Laurel assured the public that the DA is doing its best to control the spread. “Tomorrow (Friday), we will have checkpoints or inspection stations set up in the affected areas – in the eight municipalities – to control the spread,” Laurel said.

“So, it’s not that alarming because the vaccine is on the way. Hopefully, we can contain this. But, of course, it will not be easy, but we will do our best,” he added.

As this developed, the DA is strengthening the country’s laboratories and research in a bid to locally manufacture vaccines in the near future.

An indemnification program is also in place for the affected livestock sector, Laurel added.

“Then we also have an indemnification program, and we are finalizing the policy for pork. Previously, if a pig with ASF was slaughtered, only Php5,000 was given regardless of the size of the pig. Now, we’ve created three classifications – there’s one for piglets, one for medium-sized pigs, and one for larger pigs or breeders,” he said.

The indemnification rates are as follows: small pigs, Php4,000; medium, Php8,000; and large, Php12,000. PND