STA. BARBARA, PANGASINAN - In support to “Bantay ASF sa Barangay Program” or “BAbay ASF Program”, the Department of Agriculture – National Livestock Program (NLP) provided capacity building and refresher courses for public/private veterinarians and livestock coordinators through the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I). This was crafted to eradicate or minimize the outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF) which affects the swine industry production sector of the Philippines with no known cure due to date resulting to estimated 36% reduction of national swine inventory.
In addition, the project aims for business continuity by preventing loss of livelihood of both smallholder and commercial swine farmers and assisting in the repopulation of swine farms in infected areas where feasible, and also to assist in the control and spread of AFS from infected to non-infected areas.
A total of 170 Barangay Biosecurity Officer completed the said activity. The following is the list of the dates and venues of the nine batches of the said training:
1. March 5, 2021 at OPAG San Quintin, Pangasinan
2. March 11, 2021 at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan
3. March 19, 2021 at ATI-RTC 1 Satellite Center, Batac City, Ilocos Norte
4. May 6, 2021 at San Fernando City, La Union
5. May 7, 2021 at OPAG, San Fernando CIty, La Union
6. June 2, 2021 at OPVET, Lingayen, Pangasinan
7. June 4, 2021 at Alaminos City, Pangasinan
8. June 11, 2021 at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan
9. June 17, 2021 at Municipal Hall, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur
As expressed by Ricardo E. Ebanculla, Jr of Labuan of San Quintin, Pangasinan, “First of all I would like to thank ATI-RTC I, OPVet and to our LGU for giving me this opportunity to join such activity. With this I got additional important knowledge, I ideas on biosecurity measures was refresh and its necessary to combat ASF. In the future, I look forward that I would be able to do the proper processes in collection and transport. Thank you to ATI and OPVet staff for giving us clear ideas pertaining to the topics, I hope that you will continue implement such so that more BBOs will be capacitated. Thank you for the provision of food and comfort during the activity. Also, I hope this will not be the last trainings you offer for us, hence, together we can fight for this pandemic. Goodbye ASF”
“Napakaganda ang training marami akong natutunan, lalong-lalo na sa actual na pagkuha ng dugo (Blood Collection). Maganda ang training na ito lalong lalo na kagaya naming affected ng ASF at ito’y magagamit namin para maproteksyunan/ maituro sa mga farmer naming kung ano ang kahalagahan ng training, pag iingat sa pagbababoy, sana may darating pa o meron pang katulad ng gantong training,” also stated by Jessica A. Peralta of Aringay, La Union.
The activity was managed and facilitated by ATI-RTC I in coordination with the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Provincial/City Veterinary Offices and the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners.