HUMAN AND animal nutrition provider ADM Philippines has partnered with the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners (PCSP) and other members of the private and public sectors in a program that will help local hog raisers address African Swine Fever (ASF) in Mindanao.
Lorenzo Mapua, ADM Animal Nutrition Philippines managing director, said during a virtual briefing on Tuesday that the group will support the initiative to control ASF under the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” program.
“Our support for the Bantay ASF sa Barangay program is our way of helping to prevent these outbreaks from happening and ensuring that hog raisers can continue their livelihood,” Mr. Mapua said.
Mr. Mapua said the program aims to control ASF and help the recovery of backyard and commercial swine farmers with biosecurity, surveillance, and restocking.
Max M. Montenegro, PCSP member and swine consultant, said ASF is the worst animal disease to affect the local hog industry in recent years.
“Bantay ASF sa Barangay, a multi-stakeholder partnership between the public and private sector and veterinarians, seeks to control the spread of ASF and assist in the repopulation of farms affected by the disease,” Mr. Montenegro said.
According to ADM, the program will be initially implemented in Misamis Oriental and Iligan City in Northern Mindanao.
Places in Iligan City that will be pilot areas for the program include Tipanoy, Abono, Dahlipuga, San Roque, and Digkilaan; together with the areas of Tagoloan and Manticao in Misamis Oriental.
“All activities will be supported by the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association, and volunteers from ADM,” the company said.
“The program will also be extended, eventually, in areas in Batangas province,” it added.
Further, ADM via its corporate service arm ADM Cares, donated P5 million worth of assistance for the program and to protect ASF free areas in Mindanao. The funds will be used to procure test kits, training sessions, and farmer seminars.
Citing government data, ADM said ASF has resulted in the culling of more than 400,000 pigs since its detection in 2019.
“As per data from the Department of Agriculture (DA), ASF is present in 11 regions, 34 provinces, 392 municipalities and over 2,000 barangays nationwide. So far, it has cost the Philippine hog industry at least P56-billion,” ADM said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
