May 7, 2026

Philippines expands hog repopulation drive with 32,000 gilts to rebuild post ASF swine herd

The Department of Agriculture steps up its recovery programme with fresh funding and a target to add six million hogs by 2028 as disease containment improves.

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) is procuring 32,000 gilts under an expanded swine repopulation programme aimed at restoring the national hog population to its pre-African swine fever (ASF) level of approximately 13 million head.

The initiative, led by the National Livestock Program through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), has been allocated PHP1.6 billion in funding under the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act. The broader legislation provides PHP20 billion annually over the next decade through the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to support the livestock sector.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said at least one million additional hogs need to be produced this year to stabilise supply and reduce import dependence. "We need to produce at least one million more head of pigs this year alone if we are to stabilise supply, reduce reliance on imports, and move closer to President Marcos' vision of a food-secure Philippines driven by stronger local production," he said.

The DA is targeting a total addition of six million hogs by 2028 to address supply gaps that have persisted since ASF first struck in 2019.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Constante Palabrica said improved disease containment has allowed authorities to ease some emergency measures, including the dismantling of checkpoints in Metro Manila after two years. "We have not detected infected pigs for some time now, which reflects the effectiveness of our containment strategies," he said. He added that the BAI remains vigilant as repopulation efforts scale up nationwide.

Vaccination programmes against ASF and avian influenza are ongoing, with the DA exploring additional vaccine suppliers to ensure continuity. To support expanded operations, the BAI is also set to hire up to 4,000 regular personnel, including around 500 veterinarians, to strengthen biosecurity capacity across the country.

- Philippine News Agency