The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera (DA-CAR) through its Livestock Program strategized with its partner agencies on how to intensify the implementation of livestock programs in the region during the Regional Livestock Program and Year-End Assessment and Planning Workshop recently at the DA-CAR New Conference Hall. Issues and concerns on the ongoing implementation of the livestock programs and projects in the region were tackled and from there, plans and strategies were crafted to address the pressing issues and to further improve the implementation next year.
“This assessment serves as a platform to talk over our plans for future actions, especially on possible projects that will be proposed. Likewise, this is a two-way assessment wherein we assess you but we let you assess us also; we take every recommendation with a grain of salt because we like to improve,” Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan underscored during her message.
Participants of the activity were key representatives from the Provincial Veterinary Offices (PVOs) in the region; City Veterinary Offices (CVAOs) of Baguio City and Tabuk City; Regional Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL); attached agencies involved in livestock such as the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS), Veterinary Quarantine Service-CAR, and National Dairy Authority (NDA), and the Agricultural Programs Coordinating Officers.
The main topics discussed were the prevention measures against various diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF) & Avian Influenza (AI); and how to address the challenges being faced in the implementation of the P5.5 Million Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery & Expansion (INSPIRE) Project which requires the collective efforts among the concerned agencies.
Hence, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Dr. Cameron P. Odsey emphasized the contribution of everyone to make sure that the beneficiaries under the INSPIRE Project have the capacity to implement the project to ensure success and sustainability. Moreover, the success of the said project will be able to encourage the backyard raisers that the wide-scale production of pork is feasible in the mountainous region, thus, the region should seize the opportunity, Odsey stressed.
Also, he stirred up the local governments to share their experiences on the cause of AI infections in their area and verified if migratory birds are observed as the cause of infections. However, the local governments shared that the common reason for infection in their area is the shipments of stocks from other regions. Odsey then recommended the possible conduct of research together with the PVOs on the testing of migratory birds to confirm if they are AI carriers.
On the other hand, Dawayan encouraged everyone to be a model to other farmers, particularly on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Animal Husbandry Practice (GAHP) certifications by processing the registrations of their production centers or stations.
Other major matters tackled during the activity were the strengthening of animal quarantine checkpoints in all provinces; how to encourage the unregistered animal transport handlers to register through crafting a mechanism on how to coordinate with the local governments during the renewal of their business license; and proper submission of animal sample to the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the agency.
All the said issues and concerns emanated from the update’s presentation on the programs and projects of the livestock program, Regulatory Division [in relation to livestock], RDDL, VSQ-CAR, NMIS, and NDA. The local governments also presented their accomplishments for the second semester 2022. By SBMayao