“We must unite as one to effectively protect our region from African Swine Fever or any other animal diseases!”
This was aired by Assistant Regional Director for Research and Regulation Elmer T. Ferry during the consultative meeting spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture Region IV-CALABARZON regarding combatting the ASF held at Lipa City, Batangas last June 28, 2019.
The consultative meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (PDRRMOs) and the Provincial Veterinarian Offices (PVOs) in CALABARZON aims to discuss and prepare a sound operational plan to combat the African Swine Fever (ASF) should it hit the region.
The said plan will outline how the DA CALABARZON and the Local Government Units (LGUs) can assist each other to quickly eradicate ASF outbreak in the region.
Ms. Vilma M. Dimaculangan, Regional Focal Person for Livestock Program, emphasized that close coordination of the DA and LGUs is necessary in order to quickly detect and eradicate ASF or any other threat.
During the meeting, Dr. Gloria Salazar, Chief of Regional Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory, presented the operational plan of the DA CALABARZON in case of ASF outbreak.
It was agreed that each province in the region will prepare their respective provincial quick response plan specific to ASF.
Ms. Dimaculangan assured the PDRRMOs and PVOs that regardless of the scope of the ASF that might enter the region, the DA CALABARZON will provide its full support to LGUs affected by the said animal disease. • RFL – RAFIS