Manila, June 24 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday expressed optimism on securing approval for the commercial use of AVAC live vaccines.

This is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intensify the livestock sector's recovery efforts from the effects of African swine fever (ASF).

In an interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the agency can secure the approval from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) by the next quarter.

"By the third quarter, ma-release 'yung commercial release ng AVAC ng Vietnam (The commercial release for AVAC vaccines from Vietnam will be released by the third quarter). This is the government approval for commercial use of the AVAC vaccine withi...