The Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) Department of Veterinary Medicine, in cooperation with the Bulacan Provincial Veterinary Office and the Venerable Knight Veterinarians Fraternity and Venerable Lady Veterinarians Sorority (VKV-VLV), organized the First BASC Swine Congress at the Farmers’ Training Center BASC on November 17, 2023. 

     Dr. Honeylet J. Nicolas led the invocation, while Dr. Jameson Tan provided opening remarks to welcome the distinguished speakers from the Philippine swine industry, all of whom are alumni of VKV-VLV. The ASF General Information was introduced by Dr. Melvin B. Ganapin, Technical Services Officer at Pig Improvement Company Phils., Inc. Furthermore, Dr. Voltaire G. Basinang, provincial veterinarian in Bulacan, presented the ASF condition of Bulacan Province, where it was a significant concern for farmers, particularly those who catered for livestock such as swine. Dr. Robert H. Lo, the owner of RDF, spoke on the RDF Swine Operations Team about how they survived their actual experience with ASF. 

     The afternoon session began with Dr. John Vincent D. Mejia, a swine veterinarian from Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation, who delivered an in-depth overview of Biosecurity Strategies as Solutions for ASF, emphasizing the safety of the farms and swine. Dr. Arden C. Evangelista, Swine Farm Consultant, tackled the ASF vaccine trial results and its updates. Lastly, Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco, Director of the Department of Agriculture’s National Livestock Program, addressed the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE). 

     The congress concluded with the six speakers successfully presenting their individual lectures and discussions. An open forum was held, followed by the DVM professors and students giving plaque.