Diet supplier ADM strikes to assist mitigate unfold of ASF

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PHILSTAR FILE

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 to help local pig farmers fight African Swine Fever (ASF) in Mindanao.

Lorenzo Mapua, Managing Director of ADM Animal Nutrition Philippines, said during a virtual briefing on Tuesday that the group would support the ASF control initiative under the Bantay ASF sa Barangay program.

“Our support for the Bantay ASF sa Barangay program is our way of preventing these outbreaks and ensuring that pig farmers can get on with a living,” said Mapua.

Mr Mapua said the program aims to control ASF and help restore backyard and commercial pig farmers through biosecurity, surveillance and restocking.

Max M. Montenegro, PCSP member and pig advisor, said ASF was the worst animal disease to affect the local pig industry in recent years.

“Bantay ASF sa Barangay, a multi-stakeholder partnership between the public and private sectors and veterinarians, is trying to control the spread of ASF and support the repopulation of farms affected by the disease,” said Montenegro.

According to ADM, the program will initially be implemented in Misamis Oriental and Iligan City in northern Mindanao.

Locations in Iligan City that will be pilot areas for the program include Tipanoy, Abono, Dahlipuga, San Roque, and Digkilaan; together with the Tagoloan and Manticao areas in Misamis Oriental.

“All activities are supported by the Northern Mindanao Hog Raisers Association and volunteers from ADM,” the company said.

“The program will eventually expand to areas in Batangas Province,” it added.

In addition, through its corporate service arm ADM Cares, ADM donated pesetas 5 million in support to the program and the protection of ASF-free areas in Mindanao. The funds are used for the procurement of test kits, training courses and farmers’ seminars.

Citing government data, ADM said ASF had slaughtered more than 400,000 pigs since its discovery in 2019.

“According to the Ministry of Agriculture (DA), ASF is present in 11 regions, 34 provinces, 392 municipalities and over 2,000 barangays across the country. So far, it has cost the Philippine pig industry at least 56 billion pesetas, ”ADM said. – Revin Mikhael D. Ochave