LUNA, Apayao – The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) reported substantial achievements in rabies and African Swine Fever (ASF) prevention during the coordination meeting chaired by Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr. on January 21 at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex.
Led by Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Ralph Verzon, the PVO bared that 8,286 animals in the province’s seven municipalities were vaccinated for rabies in 2024. However, despite these efforts, two rabies cases were confirmed in the towns of Conner and Luna.
Their report also detailed the ASF outbreak and its impact, which led to the culling of 1,960 pigs and affected 741 farmers. The office likewise shared their initiatives to mitigate these challenges by distributing livestock, increasing animal healthcare services, and nutrition programs that supported the affected farmers and to strengthen the province’s animal production systems.
Gov. Bulut urged for a more efficient resource allocation and teamwork to support the successful implementation of provincial development plans, particularly in programs related to animal health and protecting farmers’ livelihoods. By Krizza Joy Castillo