June 19, 2023

New Philippines task force focused on keeping animal transboundary diseases at bay

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a task force to control the spread of animal transboundary diseases, such as African swine fever and bird flu, in response to industry stakeholders' request.

The Special Task Force on Animal Health will prevent and control emerging transboundary diseases by coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to craft the necessary solutions to harmonise guidelines of the national and local government units. The inter-agency task force will be established with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DILG and Philippine National Police (PNP).

The panel will work with the DOH and the DENR to implement the proposed Pandemic Fund and Livestock Infrastructure Modernization and Enhancement Program. Additionally, it will be responsible for monitoring the prices and level of production for livestock and poultry commodities.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Paz Benavidez Jr. and United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA) president Elias Jose Inciong are named chair and co-chair of the special task force, respectively.

Members from the government side include Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Padre, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director Paul Limson.

Gregorio San Diego, chair of UBRA and Philippine Egg Board Association, National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. president Chester Warren Tan and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines Inc. president Rolando Tambago will represent the private sector.

UBRA earlier made the request to organise a task force on handling disease outbreaks as "there is no inter-department planning for worse scenarios."

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez had said this would not overlap with the Price and Volume Watch Committee and Advisory Groups for Livestock and Poultry reconvened by the agency in January to closely monitor the prices of livestock and poultry products.

- Inquirer