Senator Cynthia Villar expressed strong frustration towards the Department of Agriculture (DA) during a Senate hearing concerning the supplier monopoly related to African Swine Fever (ASF).
During the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform hearing, Villar’s anger escalated when high-ranking officials from the DA and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) were notably absent.
Villar questioned why only Assistant Secretary Constante Palabrica, an official from the DA responsible for animal welfare, attended the hearing.
She stressed that the worsening ASF situation is alarming, with the disease widespread in provinces and severely affecting swine populations.
The senator criticized the BAI for seemingly favoring a single ASF vaccine supplier.
The AVAC vaccine, manufactured in Vietnam, is the only brand that has applied for product registration in the Philippines and began its rollout on August 30.
Villar noted that the AVAC vaccine is not globally accepted and is not used in the United States.
Dr. Samuel Zacate from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained that the BAI and the vaccine supplier had conducted clinical trials last year, which had been approved for government rollout.
Consequently, Villar instructed the FDA to submit the clinical trial results to the Senate for public scrutiny.
The senator also questioned why ASF cases seem to be worsening despite the availability of vaccines.
According to Villar, data from December 2022 showed ASF affecting four regions, nine provinces, 27 municipalities, and 90 barangays. However, by August, this had surged to 15 regions and 458 barangays impacted by the disease.