The Department of Science and Technology (DoST), in partnership with BioAssets Corporation, has unveiled new Filipino-developed technologies aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to detect and manage African swine fever (ASF). The disease has significantly impacted the Philippine hog industry since 2019.

These innovations include two detection kits and a mobile biocontainment laboratory, offering science-based solutions to prevent further economic losses in the agricultural sector.

ASF outbreaks have affected 76 out of 82 provinces across the Philippines, with four provinces still reporting active cases as of May 2025.

Through its Industrial Technology Development Institute, the DoST developed the TUSLOB Rapid DNA Extraction Kit and the VIPtec ASFV Real-time PCR Detection Kit. These tools are designed to provide fast, accurate, and on-site detection of the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) using Polymerase Chain Reaction techniques suitable for field conditions. This enables point-of-need diagnostics for veterinarians and animal health workers.

Meanwhile, BioAssets Corporation has introduced the Mobile Biocontainment Laboratory, described as the country’s first homegrown mobile lab. It is designed for rapid deployment in outbreak-prone areas, supporting disease surveillance and response efforts to facilitate faster decision-making for containment and mitigation.