MANILA -- Batangas hograisers are now preparing for the government-controlled inoculation as another step in curbing the resurgence of African swine fever (ASF). 

DA targets to roll out African swine fever vaccine in September

The Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry, has started initial processes in preparation for vaccination. Hogs will be clustered into groups of 50 to ensure efficiency.

"Kailangan namin na i-grupo sila ng 50 para pag binakunahan walang masayang. Pero bago namin bakunahan, titignan namin muna virus o wala," said Asec. Dante Palabrica of the DA.

(We need to group them by 50 so by the time we start vaccination, no vaccines will be wasted. But we need to test if the hogs carry the virus first.)

"I-cluster namin tapos ayusin namin ang mga schedule. Ibig sabihin kung pwede ba ba't iyan sa clustering na gagawin, nasisimulan namin sa Lobo. Tapos yan pag maayos, i-replicate namin sa mga bayan na ito ay monitored relief," Palabrica added.

(We will put them into clusters and we will fix the schedule. We have started it in Lobo, then we may replicate in other towns.)

Only grower pigs, or those between 4 to 12 weeks are eligible for vaccination. Pigs must also not be infected by ASF when inoculated. The BAI said it is also unsure if they can grant the hog raisers call for subsidies, as they find the P400 per dose expensive.

"It depends sa availability ng funds ng FDA. Kasi marami tayong pinagkakagastusan, lalo na yung repopulation," Palabrica said.

(It depends on the availability of funds of the FDA. We spend on a lof of things, including repopulation.)

Indemnification for affected hograisers has been raised from P5000 to P8000 per head, and P12,000 if it is a female pig capable of giving birth.