NAVAL, Biliran - Looking back, 2019 was a challenging year for the Philippine swine industry as the dreaded African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed to have reached the country. In early 2021, the disease has made its way to Region 8 affecting many municipalities thus compromising the swine population. This prompted National and Local Government agencies to partner up and prevent further economic loss especially in the region.
Barangay Biosecurity Officers (BBO) are continuously being organized to serve as field responder in monitoring ASF in their respective municipalities. On February 3-4, 2022, ATI-RTC 8 conducted a Training for Barangay Biosecurity Officer on ASF Monitoring and Surveillance in Naval, Biliran. Since dealing with ASF is a very critical task, this activity aimed to capacitate BBOs in having more knowledge and skills especially in the specimen collection. Specimens collected will undergo laboratory testing to detect animals that have survived ASF and determine whether the diseases might be endemic in an area.
Nineteen (19) participants attended the training. One of them was Rexter C. Corto, an Agricultural Technologist from Caibiran, Biliran. He explained that even though the province of Biliran is currently ASF-free, they still have to be cautious and never be complacent. “As technicians, we should be armed with knowledge and skills in all aspects of agriculture.” He admitted that despite being a technician, it was his first time to collect blood samples from a pig. He added that as ASF Biosecurity Officers, one really must learn how to conduct blood collection that is why he was grateful for the opportunity to have attended the training.
Despite the ASF outbreak in the region, Biliran province remains ASF-free and through this training, BBOs and local technicians hopes to arm themselves with enough knowledge in combatting the disease head-on. “Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes.” said Cristine D. Verano, an ATI from Culaba.
