0
The Department of Agriculture (DA) officially inaugurated the vaccine unit at the Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (CenTrAD) on Tuesday. This state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to the development of shots to immunize animals against infectious diseases, particularly African Swine Fever (ASF), Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), and Avian Influenza (AI).
The DA has allocated P151 million for a three-year vaccine development program, which includes the procurement of the government’s first Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory (BSL-3). This type of laboratory allows research on microbes, both indigenous and exotic, that can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through inhalation. The program aims to deliver vaccine prototypes by 2028 or sooner.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. explained that while vaccines for ASF, AI and FMD are available internationally, locally developed vaccines based on indigenous strains tend to be more effective in preventing outbreaks. He said a dedicated facility like the vaccine unit at CenTrAD is crucial for addressing the economic losses caused by ASF and AI and for safeguarding the country’s livestock from FMD.
The Philippine swine sector has incurred billions in losses since the first ASF outbreak in 2019. The current swine population is only at 60% of the nearly 13 million heads before the outbreak. ASF has led to significant job losses, billions in investments and income, and has hindered efforts toward achieving food security. AI, on the other hand, has caused the culling of over 10 million chickens since its first outbreak in 2017.
April 8, 2025/ Department of Agriculture/ The Philippines.
https://www.da.gov.ph
