It will take another two to three years before the Philippines’ swine population returns to its pre-African swine fever (ASF) levels, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that the Agriculture Department is already seeing signs of recovery in the local hog industry.
“Tatagal ito ng two to three years,” de Mesa said.
(This will last for two to three years.)
The DA official said the controlled vaccination of hogs is ongoing and “naging maganda ang resulta sa mga lugar na nagkaroon ng bakuna (the results were favorable in areas where vaccination was made available).”
The DA is now awaiting the approval of the FDA for its clearance for the commercial rollout of the ASF vaccine, possibly later this year, before implementing an aggressive repopulation plan that should bring back domestic production to pre-ASF levels by 2028.
“Naghihintay na lang tayo ng kumpirmasyon mula sa FDA (Food and Drug Administration) para sa commercial release,” he said.
(We are just waiting for the confirmation from FDA for its commercial release.)
Since the first outbreak in 2019, the national hog inventory has declined from approximately 13 million heads to less than nine million heads.
The vaccine will significantly enhance the likelihood of success for the repopulation program, according to the DA.
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DILG tells LGUs to adopt cashless
transactions for gov’t payments
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday asked local government units to use the electronic payment and collection systems (EPCS) as an alternative to cash transactions.
The department said this is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s push for digital transformation in government.
The DILG, in a memorandum circular, said LGUs may implement EPCS in collecting local taxes, fees, and other charges, in accordance with Executive Order No. 170, s. 2022 regarding the use of digital payments for government transactions.
Digital payments improve transparency, efficiency, and public convenience, the DILG said in a press release.
“LGUs are encouraged to offer secure, accessible digital options, ensure payment channels are user-friendly, and partner with authorized providers, including government servicing banks,” it added.
The DILG said efforts must be made to align with the National Retail Payment System Framework and the Data Privacy Act.
The department also tasked LGUs to set clear procedures for the issuance of electronic invoices and billing notices in accordance with guidelines from the Commission on Audit and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The DILG however clarified that LGUs must still accept cash and other traditional modes of payment in addition to electronic payments.
It also encouraged LGUs to pass ordinances and local policies to support the full implementation of the acceptance of electronic payments.
