From February 26-28, 2025, a three-day training on Disease Surveillance, Monitoring, and Sample Collection took place at the Agricultural Training Institute - RTC VII Training Complex in Cabawan District, Tagbilaran City. The training was attended by 26 participants, including Local Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), farmers, and on-the-job trainees from the College of Agricultural Sciences at Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Bilar, Bohol.
The goal of the training was to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills in animal health and management, with an emphasis on monitoring and preventing the spread of diseases, including the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus.
The training covered the following topics:
- Understanding disease surveillance concepts
- Disease monitoring and surveillance management
- Proper donning and doffing of PPEs
- Effective sample collection techniques
- Proper disease reporting
One of the key elements of the training was the hands-on demonstration of sample collection techniques, giving participants practical skills that are critical for managing animal health in the field.
Resource speakers included expert veterinarians from the City of Tagbilaran and the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian: Dr. Carl Leonard M. Pradera, Dr. Marjorie A. Licatan and Dr. Christopher M. Tanduyan.
Participants provided valuable feedback on their experiences during the training:
"I learned so much, especially about the ASF virus and how to control it. The training was informative, and the hands-on approach helped us master sample collection techniques." – Dave Lawis, MAO Staff, LGU-Bien Unido
"I learned the importance of cleaning and disinfecting to avoid ASF and how crucial it is to report symptoms to prevent disease spread." – Julius Caesar B. Bulaga, On-the-Job Trainee, BISU-Bilar Campus
Project Officer for the event, Ms. Jessa P. Maglangit, DMO I/Livestock Focal Person, expressed her satisfaction with the success of the training and its positive impact on the participants. Ms. Danelyn A. Enero, who served as Technical Support Staff, assisted in the smooth execution of the event.
This training is part of ongoing efforts to equip agricultural workers and swine raisers with the skills necessary to improve animal health management and prevent the spread of diseases in local livestock communities.
