To continuously ensure efficient and effective implementation of the animal health program in the region, leaders, alternate focal persons, and members of the team from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON, together with provincial veterinarians and their staff, gathered for their 1st quarter meeting on April 30, 2019 held at STIARC Training Hall in Lipa City, Batangas.
This meeting was organized by the Livestock Program with the Regulatory Division and Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of the DA CALABARZON.
In his message, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Fidel L. Libao of Batangas emphasized the importance of joining forces in preventing, controlling, and eradicating diseases since CALABARZON is essentially a livestock region. He also guaranteed the local government units that the regional office will always support them in protecting the livestock sector from any threat of disease.
Updates on rabies, operational plan for rabies elimination in dogs (OPLAN RED), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance program, artificial insemination (AI), African swine fever (ASF), Philippine animal health information system (Phil-AHIS), tuberculosis (TB) testing, memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the academe, and upcoming trainings were presented by Dr. Jerome G. Cuasay, regional animal health program team leader, and Dr. Gloria G. Salazar, RADDL Chief and one of the program assistant team leaders. Provincial veterinary offices (PVOs) also presented their respective provincial animal health program including campaigns and vaccines given to their constituents.
During discussions, completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of data submitted by the PVOs to the regional office were highlighted for appropriate procedures in implementing the program.
Animal health is one of the programs of the Livestock Program which facilitates the implementation of disease prevention and control, disease surveillance and reporting, outbreak investigations, and border control in the region. • ARC