Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. has created a technical working group studying the feasibility of manufacturing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines in the Philippines.
Although the World Organization for Animal Health recognizes the Philippines as FMD-free even without a vaccination program since May 2014, the DA chief is fearful of the economic impact of an outbreak of the highly contagious livestock disease.
The Philippines has not inoculated livestock against FMD for decades. Cattle, swine and goats are among farm animals susceptible to FMD. Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are among the Philippines’ neighbors recently reported to have FMD cases.
“To maintain the country’s status (as an FMD-free jurisdiction) and prepare it for contingencies, there’s a need to explore the viability and feasibility of manufacturing FMD vaccines locally to be used in the prevention and control of FMD incursions,” the DA chief said in Special Order 1083 dated 23 July.
Sec. Tiu Laurel designated Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry, Constante Palabrica, a veterinarian, as TWG chairman. The team will provide technical inputs to ascertain the viability and feasibility of locally producing FMD vaccines.
