In a bid to combat the threat of African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched locally developed technologies for early detection, rapid response, and long-term prevention of the viral disease, which devastated the country's hog sector since 2019.

ASF, a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever caused by the ASF virus, affects both domestic and wild pigs regardless of age.

Since its detection in the Philippines in 2019, the disease has severely reduced local hog inventory, with numbers dropping from 12.7 million heads in 2019 to 8.75 million in 2024-2025.

The significant decline in hog supply has led to pork prices nearly doubling—from P224.19 per kilogram (kg) to P450.00/kg.

DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) Dr. Synan Baguio said fluctuations in raw material and animal feed prices significantly impact the overall cost of pork production, thereby influencing market pork prices.

While ASF is not transmissible to humans, its effects on agriculture, food security, and livelihood are severe. There is currently no effective treatment, and while vaccines are under validation, prevention remains the most effective strategy.

Symptoms of ASF include fever, loss of appetite, low energy, weight loss, internal and external hemorrhages, abortion, and sudden death. Because ASF signs resemble those of Classical Swine Fever, laboratory testing is essential for accurate diagnosis.

Innovations for early detection and response

To address the ASF problem in the Philippines, DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) revealed cutting-edge diagnostics and containment tools, including the TUSLOB® Rapid DNA Extraction Kit and the VIPtec® ASFV Real-time PCR Detection Kit—both enable fast, field-deployable ASF detection.

These kits provide rapid, accurate, and high-quality DNA extraction from the blood samples of potentially ASF-infected pigs, according to the DOST.

Designed to be user-friendly and optimized for locally circulating ASF strains, the tools support on-site testing in veterinary and agricultural settings, aiding in the control of ASF outbreaks and the reduction of economic losses. Notably, the TUSLOB® Rapid DNA Extraction Kit is equipment-free.

The DOST-ITDI also unveiled the Filipino-made Mobile Biocontainment Laboratory, developed by BioAssets Corporation with support from DOST’s Business Innovation Through S&T (BIST) Program, which brings diagnostic capability directly to outbreak sites.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the urgency of local innovation.

"It's very important to show that Filipinos are capable of developing technologies that can help address our food-related problems," Solidum said.

National context and government collaboration

ASF has impacted 76 of the country’s 82 provinces since 2019, with six provinces having active cases as of 11 July, and consequently, the Department of Agriculture has called for an additional production of two million hogs annually to meet its recovery targets.

To temporarily fill supply gaps, pork imports increased by 25.9 percent in Q1 2025, with 53.2 percent of those imports being pork, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Solidum also emphasized the critical importance of establishing the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP), not only to combat ASF but also to address other emerging diseases and viral threats.

“With VIP, we can boost our country’s capacity to anticipate, detect, and respond to emerging and re-emerging viral threats—not just for animals, but for plants and humans as well,” he explained.

“Why do we need to establish one in the Philippines, and why not use other solutions from other countries? Simply because, the strains that we may have may be different from the strains that other vaccines developed in other countries are addressing," he added.

On the other hand, Solidum also mentioned that the Central Luzon State University is one of the institutions funded by DOST-PCAARRD to develop test kits for the early and accurate detection of ASF.

He also announced that DOST-ITDI has received P190 million in funding to develop a vector-based subunit vaccine for ASF, which is now in its second year of molecular development.