The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas facilitated a three-day workshop on Applied Epidemiology training to veterinarians in the region to capacitate them on epidemiology, at the Aklan State University from August 24 to 26.
The workshop was held to equip them in African swine fever (ASF) preparedness in conducting targeted surveillance activities for early detection and response.
They were also equipped with the applied and working knowledge in disease outbreak investigation and to train the animal health workforce in preparing, planning intervention measures and responding to virus and other important diseases.
Western Visayas remains ASF free.
Dr. Jonic Natividad, DA-6 Regulatory Division chief and Regional Focal for ASF Taskforce, expressed his appreciation for the continuous collaboration of agencies, provincial and municipal veterinarians, and private sectors.
Aside from the massive information dissemination and continuous surveillance, local government units were engaged in the program to enact ordinances related to ASF control, registration, and deputization of Barangay Biosecurity Officers, issuances of hog transport pass, disease monitoring, and reporting, and recovery and repopulation, he said.
In the first quarter of 2022 Western Visayas contributed significantly to the livestock and poultry performance of the country, he said.
It has ranked second in the production of swine, achieving a 175 percent sufficiency level, and contributing 12.3 percent to the national need.*