MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up efforts to rebuild the country’s swine industry through an expanded repopulation program, starting with the procurement of about 32,000 gilts, as part of recovery measures following the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF).

The initiative, led by the National Livestock Program through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), is part of a broader strategy to restore the national swine population to its pre-ASF level of around 13 million heads. Authorities aim to add 6 million hogs by 2028 to address losses recorded since 2019 and strengthen local supply.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the program plays a key role in advancing the government’s food security goals.

“We need to produce at least one million more head of pigs this year alone if we are to stabilize supply, reduce reliance on imports, and move closer to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of a food-secure Philippines driven by stronger local production,” he said.

The program is supported by ₱1.6 billion in funding, according to Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Constante Palabrica. It is anchored on the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act (AIDCA), which allocates ₱20 billion annually over the next decade through the Animal Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ANCEF) to boost the livestock sector.

Palabrica said improvements in disease control have allowed the government to ease some emergency measures.

“We have not detected infected pigs for some time now, which allowed us to dismantle checkpoints in Metro Manila after two years. This reflects the effectiveness of our containment strategies,” he said.

He added that authorities remain on alert as the repopulation program expands nationwide.

The DA said vaccination efforts against ASF and avian influenza are ongoing, with plans to explore additional vaccine sources to sustain livestock health and resilience.

To support the program, the BAI is also set to hire up to 4,000 regular personnel, including around 500 veterinarians, to strengthen operations and enhance biosecurity measures.

Despite progress, the agency noted that increasing production while maintaining strict biosecurity standards will be crucial to ensuring long-term stability and reducing dependence on pork imports.