Matinding kinalampag ng dalawang mambabatas ang Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) sa pagkakaroon ng aprubadong bakuna ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA) upang sugpuin ang kumakalat na African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak.
Sa ginanap na pagdinig ng Senate committee on agriculture and food security, nagpahayag ng pagkadismaya sina Senador Cynthia Villar at Majority Leader Francis Tolentino sa mabagal, mahina at kapos na scientific response DA-BAI laban sa ASF na nananalasa sa swine industry.
Nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon ang komite base sa Senate Resolution No. 565 na inihain ni Tolentino bunsod ng pagkakalat ng ASF sa mahigit 472 barangay sa buong kapuluan.
“The public hearing brought together key stakeholders from the agriculture sector—government agencies, mayors of affected municipalities, private sector, and affected farmers—to discuss urgent measures aimed at halting the spread of the disease,” ani Villar.
Binigyan diin ni Villar ang matinding pangangailangan sa bakuna bilang long-term solution sa epekto ng ASF.
“The ASF, a highly contagious and fatal viral disease affecting domestic hogs, was first confirmed in the Philippines in 2019. Five (5) years have passed and it continuously plagues the swine industry, causing severe losses in hog populations,” sabi pa ni Villar.” chairperson ng Senate committee on Agriculture and Food.
“The ASF outbreak in Lobo, Batangas was first reported on July 16, 2024. In August 2024, Lobo, Batangas, was placed under a state of calamity due to ASF, hitting 108 out of 606 barangays, resulting in hog mortality of more than 15,000 hogs,” dagdag pa ng senador.
Base sa BAI-National ASF Prevention and Control Program, ngayong September 2024, may 472 barangays sa14 rehiyon ang ikikonsiderang red zone” dahil sa pinakamataas na bilang ng apektadong barangay.
Ang mgs ito ay ang North Cotabato na may 108 kaso, Batangas- 96, at Quezon -91.
“The spread of ASF could have been mitigated if the country had implemented a first border control system. Additionally, it was highlighted that the availability of FDA-approved vaccines for hogs could have played a crucial role in preventing the outbreak,” paliwanag ni Villar.
Inihayag ng FDA na kailangang sumailalim ang bakuna sa clinical testing para magkaroon ng Certificate of Product Registration (CPR).
Nararapat din aniyang sumailalim ito sa clinical testing para tiyakin ang kaligtasan at pagiging epekribo ng bakuna.
Sinabi niDr. Samuel Zacate, Director General ng FDA, na sa ngayon, may apat na bakuna para sa ASF ang sumasailalim sa local clinical trials.
Binanggit ni Villar sa BAI na nagkaroon ng pagdinig sa ASF noong October 25, 2023 kung saan iginiit ang kahalagahan ng clinical trial sa ASF vaccine.
Inatasan din niya ang DA na magsumite sa katapusan ng Oktubre ng resulta ng kanilang government-controlled field testing sa Batangas na magtatapos sa September. Ernie Reyes
