malaysiangMANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday announced that the 10,000 doses of African swine fever (ASF) AVAC live vaccines emergency procured for Batangas will arrive on Friday.
This came shortly after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Batangas declared a state of calamity in the entire province due to the effects of the ASF outbreak in eight areas including Calatagan, Lian, Lipa City, Lobo, Rosario, San Juan, Talisay, and Tuy.
‘This Friday, darating na iyong 10,000 (doses) (will arrive). We are expecting next week, start na iyong controlled vaccination dito sa (we will start the controlled vaccination in) Batangas under the emergency procurement,’ DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said in an interview.
‘This Friday din magpupulong na iyong (there will be a meeting between the) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) with the industry stakeholders sa Batangas para una, malaman kung sino iyong magbo-volunteer na magpa-participate sa controlled vaccinations pa rin (in Batangas to identify the volunteer
participants of the controlled vaccinations),’ he said.
De Mesa also announced the creation of an independent technical advisory group to assess the progress, continuation, and halting of government-controlled vaccinations nationwide.
‘These are independent scientists, academicians, veterinarians, Philippine College of Swine Practitioners (PCSP), veterinary universities and swine practitioners na walang kinalaman sa bakuna, sa industriya (who are not involved in the vaccines and the industry),’ he said.
The advisory group is expected to come up with recommendations both to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on the progress of government-controlled vaccinations.
Intensified biosecurity measures
The BAI, meanwhile, set up eight inspection points in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas as part of its intensified biosecurity measures against ASF and avian influenza (AI).
These are in Commonwealth, Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora, and Edsa Balintawak in Qu
ezon City; Marulas and Malanday in Valenzuela City; animal quarantine checkpoint in Brgy. Turbina, Calamba, Laguna; Star Tollway, Sto.Tomas in Batangas; and Alfonso animal quarantine checkpoint in Brgy Amuyong, Alfonso, Cavite.
The checkpoints will operate until the end of the year.
‘Iyong mga checkpoints na ito ay (These checkpoints are) from North and South. Iyong mga galing South papuntang North kasi ngayon, mayroon tayong repopulation program sa (Those coming from South to North because now we have a repopulation program in) Central Luzon, most especially Bulacan and Pampanga areas,’ De Mesa said.
‘We don’t want to compromise iyong ating repopulation program sa areas na ito (our repopulation program from these areas) coming from Southern Luzon,’ he added, referring to infected zones in Calabarzon.
Through these inspection points, authorities would be able to verify meat deliveries’ compliance with shipping permits from legitimate farm sources, certificate of meat inspection (COMI) for meat products, a
s well as inspection of poultry products against avian influenza infection, among others.
Source: Philippines News Agency
