EL NIÑO DISPATCH
New D.A. chief vows to sustain programs for hog industry expansion
Newly appointed Secretary Bernie Fondevilla of the Department of Agriculture has assured the hog industry that the DA will continue the programs initiated by his predecessor to help the sector sustain its rebound last year, including the implementation of big-ticket projects like a modern slaughterhouse and an egg processing center.
Fondevilla said that just like former DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the country’s hog raisers can count on their open line of communication to him to urgently address pressing concerns that could plague the industry.
“We would like to assure our hog raisers that the programs that our Secretary Yap has started will continue to be pursued,” Fondevilla said at the recent 19th National Convention of Hog Raisers held in
Fondevilla was referring to the modern slaughterhouse that the DA will help build BAI compound in Marulas, Valenzuela 50 heads per hour capacity and the 900 square-meter (floor area) egg processing center in San Jose, Batangas that will be operated by the private sector.
Also present at the Tagaytay event were
On Catbagan’s watch, total livestock and poultry industry sub-sector has consistently contributed 26%-28% to the whole agriculture output production increased by 1.49% in 2009 compared to 2008, which is no mean feat given the bureau’s tasks in keeping the Philippines free of the dreaded avian influenza (AI) or bird flu virus, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other threats to the animal industry.
In 2009, livestock production increased by 1.20% while poultry output increased by 1.82%. For broiler production, supply is projected to be higher that the demand in the first semester of 2010.
The BAI also efficiently marshalled its resources to prevail over the huge difficulties of two El Niño episodes; the series of powerful tropical cyclones; and the reemergence of diseases such as the Ebola Reston Virus.
It has successfully kept the Philippines bird flu-free, which has allowed the Philippines to export poultry meat and poultry products to Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East; as well as breeder chicks to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Nepal and the Middle East.
The BAI also maintained the internationally recognized freedom of Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate from the FMD since 2001 and 2002 respectively, and the looming declaration of Luzon recorded a zero incidence from FMD for the last 51 months by the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or World Organization for Animal Health, which will add to the country’s attractiveness as a reliable source of high-quality livestock products, notably for the global Halal market that the DA is trying to develop.
It was also able to:
1) eliminate non-effective imported drugs and biologics from the local market through field-testing and validation;
2) develop technologies on the production of local diagnostic antigens as alternative to expensive imported antigens;
3) implement a successful disease monitoring and surveillance system resulting in the non-entry of exotic animal diseases into the country;
4) develop and standardize practical diagnostic tests and protocols for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of disease outbreaks;
5) formulate and validate several cost effective control measures against several parasitic disease problems; and
6) transfer diagnostic technologies to upgrade the capabilities of the DA-Regional Diagnostic Laboratories. (DA Press Office)
