SIBALOM and CULASI, Antique - ATI Region 6 conducted two batches of Bantay ASF (African Swine Fever) sa Barangay: Training on Specimen Collection for Barangay Biosecurity Officers (BBOs) in the Province of Antique. The activity aims to enhance the participants’ knowledge and skills as biosecurity officers in line with the ASF prevention program.
Thirty-nine (39) Barangay Biosecurity Officers from North and South Antique participated in the lectures and discussions about ASF prevention and control, specimen collection, handling, packaging, and transportation of specimens to the regional laboratory. Salient topics include the provincial ordinance on prevention and control of ASF, movement and repopulation of swine, and the roles and responsibilities of veterinary biosecurity officers and BBOs.
In addition, participants also performed hands-on activities on blood sample collection, swine-retraining, and vein spotting at the Sibalom and Culasi slaughterhouses.
Personnel from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 6 Regional Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory and Office of the Provincial Veterinarian served as resource speakers during the training.
Moreover, BBO kits to be used for disease monitoring and surveillance of ASF were distributed to the participants during the closing ceremony.
The back-to-back training was steered in coordination and collaboration with the Antique provincial local government unit.
These activities were held at Parvana Inn in Sibalom and Anna Sophie Hostel in Culasi last June 6-7 and 8-9, 2022.
