The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out an expanded swine repopulation program with the procurement of 32,000 gilts as part of recovery measures from African swine fever (ASF).

In a news release on Tuesday, the DA said the initiative led by the National Livestock Program, through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), aims to restore the national swine population to its pre-ASF level of about 13 million heads.

“We need to produce at least one million more head of pigs this year alone if we are to stabilize supply, reduce reliance on imports, and move closer to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a food-secure Philippines driven by stronger local production,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, emphasizing that the program is crucial to strengthening local production and ensuring food security.

The DA said it is targeting to add six million hogs by 2028 to address supply gaps caused by ASF since 2019.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Constante Palabrica said the program is allotted PHP1.6 billion funding, anchored on the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (AIDCA).

The law allocates PHP20 billion annually over the next decade, through the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ANCEF), to boost the livestock sector.

Palabrica also noted that improved disease control has allowed authorities to ease emergency measures.

“We have not detected infected pigs for some time now, which allowed us to dismantle checkpoints in Metro Manila after two years. This reflects the effectiveness of our containment strategies,” he said.

Meanwhile, he emphasized that despite the effective containment strategies, the BAI remains vigilant as it scales up repopulation efforts nationwide.

The DA said vaccination efforts against ASF and avian influenza are ongoing, while additional vaccine suppliers are being explored to ensure sustainable the health and resilience of livestock.

The department also acknowledged capacity gaps in the sector, with the BAI set to hire up to 4,000 regular personnel, including around 500 veterinarians, to support its expanded operations and strengthen biosecurity measures.

Despite the progress, the DA underscored that maintaining strict biosecurity standards while increasing production will be key to ensuring long-term industry stability and reducing dependence on pork imports. (PNA)