Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda (MANILA BULLETIN)



The Department of Agriculture (DA) ought to establish stronger mechanisms to detect and contain new and more dangerous strains of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza from coming into the country by setting up stronger first border systems. Thus, said Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda in a statement on Thursday, April 27 in response to concerns raised by the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA). According to UBRA members, government is conducting biosafety inspection not at the port of entry, but in cold storages. “By then, the threat is in. So, I strongly urge the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to follow international standards and conduct first border inspections at the port of entry, not when the imports are already inside the country’s storage facilities," Salceda said. The BAI is an attached agency of the DA, which is headed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. “We also need stronger mechanisms to detect and contain Avian Flu. This one’s deadly and potentially zoonotic. When it passes on to humans, mortality is 56 percent. And it has so far killed off wild birds at a rate that the world has never seen in any past strain," said the Bicolano. "So, this one could have catastrophic impacts on Philippine agriculture if we don’t get it right. It could also be a public health crisis in the waiting," he added. Salceda, the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, suggested as a "first step" the creation of an inter-agency body to combat such threats to livestock and possibly, humans. “I strongly urge that just as we have an IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) on emerging infectious diseases for humans, PBBM issue an executive order monitoring emerging agricultural biosafety threats. I think that’s the first step," he said. Salceda was the guest speaker during the general membership meeting of UBRA--one of the largest poultry-sector organizations in the country--last April 26.