Gov't told: Prioritize rollout of vaccines vs ASF, bird flu 

AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones (Facebook)

A ranking solon in the House of Representatives is calling on government to prioritize the rollout of vaccines for livestock and poultry, specifically African Swine Fever (ASF) and bird flu. 

In a Facebook live interview on Monday, Nov. 28, AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones warned that these diseases--if left unchecked--may threaten food supply this holiday season, particularly poultry. 

Briones expressed concern for the threat posed by bird flu in San Jose, Batangas. The town was officially designated as “egg basket of the Philippines” last year. 

“Dapat pangalagaan yan dahil pag napasok kami ng bird flu ay magkakaroon ng malaking problema, malaking kakulangan ng itlog dito sa Luzon at sigurado baka madoble yung presyo ng itlog,” he stressed. 

(That should be taken care of because if the bird flu enters our area, there will be a big problem, a big shortage of eggs here in Luzon and for sure the price of eggs may double.) 

Earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) recommended Vietnam-made ASF vaccines for immediate distribution. 

However, the vaccines came under scrutiny following reports that the vaccine trials were concluded before the approval of a special import permit from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

“May gumagamit ng iligal sa baboy man o sa manok na hindi pa aprubado sa ating bansa, mas delikado yan,” noted the lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Cooperatives Development. 

(There are those illegally using vaccines in pigs or chickens without any approval in our country, that is more dangerous.) 

Meanwhile, Briones called on DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to oversee the compensation of farmers who surrender their hogs affected by ASF. 

“Ilan na ‘yung nagdaang secretary, hindi sila nagbabayad don sa mga tinamaan ng [ASF],” the solon said. 

(Many secretaries have come and gone, and they don't pay those affected by ASF.) --Dexter Barro II