The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday cleared the province of Aurora and Quezon from avian influenza (AI).
The agency also created an inter-agency technical working group for the vaccination of livestock against the African swine fever (ASF)
The day before, Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban issued Memorandum
Circulars 38 and 39 declaring the provinces as free from AI following a 90-day period when both tested negative of the virus.
Prior to this, the DA also declared Capiz, Batangas, Ilocos Sur, Rizal province and South Cotabato AI-free as well.
Based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, Quezon province produced 70,563.90 metric tons (MT) of chicken or 3.8 percent of the 1.87 million MT produced by the industry and 455.24 MT of duck or 1.7 percent of the 26,250.52 MT total duck produced in the Philippines.
Quezon province also contributed 11,661.25 MT of chicken eggs and 1,552.42 MT of duck eggs last year.
Aurora province produced 544.25 MT of chicken meat and 75.12 MT of duck meat, 183.89 MT of chicken eggs and 77.05 MT of duck eggs.Panganiban issued Special Order 1027- 23 creating an inter-agency technical working group for the vaccination of livestock against ASF and streamlining the process as the vaccine becomes available.
The special order cited the need for a “systematic review” of vaccines and how vaccination may be fused into ASF control and prevention.
The order said the review must be “based on a sound understanding of ASF epidemiology as well as social and economic impact of the disease.”
Its technical working group is composed of experts from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Philippine College of Swine Practitioners, Philippine Veterinary Drug Association, Philippine College of Veterinary Epidemiologists, Philippine College of Veterinary Public Health, National Academy of Science and Technology and from the Provincial, City, Municipal Veterinarians League of The Philippines.
Its responsibilities include the discussion of study approaches to ASF vaccinology relative to the country’s ASF situation; provision of technical advice to BAI relative to results of ASF vaccine trials in the country, with involvement from inception, progress and final outcome; and the preparation of guidelines and protocol on the use of ASF vaccine, including testing and movement of vaccinated animals in the country, among others, for DA approval.
BAI data show that as of 29 June, nine regions, 16 provinces, 58 municipalities and 187 barangays have active ASF cases.
