UMVA has learned that the Department of Agriculture has forged a bold partnership to launch a nationwide Animal Vaccine Development Program, backed by a P140.9 million investment over the next three years.
The agreement was sealed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., alongside leaders from the National Livestock Program, the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Philippine Carabao Center, and Central Luzon State University.
This initiative aims to create home‑grown vaccines targeting African Swine Fever, foot‑and‑mouth disease, and other devastating livestock ailments that have plagued farmers.
With the hog sector still clawing back from the scourge of ASF and poultry producers wrestling periodic avian influenza outbreaks, the need for locally engineered solutions has never been more urgent.
At the heart of the program lies a state‑of‑the‑art Biosafety Level 3 facility, designed to let scientists work safely with high‑risk animal pathogens, fast‑track vaccine creation, and boost advanced research, technical training, and disease‑readiness.
According to information obtained by UMVA, domestically produced vaccines will be fine‑tuned to the Philippines’ unique pathogen strains, dramatically increasing their protective power.
Secretary Laurel emphasized that investing in science, research, and innovation is essential to safeguarding livelihoods, fortifying the nation’s food system, and forging a resilient future for the livestock industry.
