Manila urged to invest in biosecurity measures, staff to keep TADS at bay

THE Philippines must continue investing in biosecurity measures and its technical staff to improve its capacity to fight transboundary animal diseases ( TADS), such as African swine fever ( ASF), the chief of the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency ( US- DTRA) said.

US- DTRA Chief Major Brian W. Smith said maintaining “well- trained individuals” is a major challenge for the government in terms of combating TADS as he noted that big corporations are willing to offer a higher pay to the government’s technical staff.

Smith said having trained individuals, not just veterinarians but also farmers and local government officials, is the “most critical component of an active prevention strategy” against TADS.

He said this problem could be addressed if the government ensures that there is an “effective internal training program at every level to ensure continuity.”

TADS are epidemic diseases that are highly contagious or transmissible and have the potential for very rapid spread, irrespective of national borders, causing serious socioeconomic and possibly public health consequences, according to the UN’S Food and Agriculture Organization.

“Training, beyond key laboratory staff to include local farmers and producers, and LGU leadership on the importance of remaining vigilant against the threat posed by zoonotic and other transboundary diseases is the most critical component of an active prevention strategy,” Smith told the Businessmirror in an e- mail interview.

“We believe that the effects we are seeing from Asf/avian Influenza will reinforce the need for continued emphasis on funding and staffing at the national level to ensure that these capabilities will remain effective into the future,” he added.

Smith said the US- DTRA has been working with the Philippine government, particularly the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Animal Industry, in developing local skill sets to combat zoonotic diseases and TADS.

“Luckily, there are many motivated, hardworking people in the Philippines, so if we can keep them trained, certified and equipped, the Philippines has a bright future in combating these devastating diseases,” he said.

Smith lauded the DA and the Department of Health’s efforts in addressing the dreaded ASF outbreaks and the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted that the ASF outbreaks and the spread of Covid-19 did not escalate due to the “hard work” and “sacrifice” of the DA, DOH, LGUS and stakeholders in the local farm sector.

“DTRA is proud to provide some of the equipment and training necessary for these brave frontliners to continue their dangerous work,” he said.

Recently the DTRA turned over an animal disease diagnostic laboratory in Tarlac City to the DA worth $643,000 to boost the country’s biosecurity efforts and measures

(See, “US-DTRA turns over

$643,000 animal diseases diagnostic laboratory to DA,” in the Businessmirror, September 16, 2020).

“DTRA’S mission is to reduce the risk posed by especially dangerous pathogens and emerging diseases, to include zoonotic [crossing human and animals],” Smith said.

“DTRA believes that by assisting our partners with the ability to detect and prevent the spread of especially dangerous pathogens and other zoonotic diseases, we can do a better job of preventing them from devastating local economies and possibly jumping to humans,” he added.

The latest laboratory was part of a long- term partnership between the US- DTRA and DA under the former’s Biological Threat Reduction Program ( BTRP).

US- DTRA’S BTRP chief Dr. Ada Bacetty said the program has invested about $25 million in the Philippines, which has been spent on the construction of new laboratories, supported trainings and for the provision of biorisk management subject matter expertise.

“These joint efforts improved biosafety and biosecurity practices and will strengthen the Department of Agriculture’s preparedness capabilities to prevent and respond to dangerous diseases and combat the negative impacts on the Filipino people,” Bacetty said.

“BTRP values this important relationship with the Republic of the Philippines and looks forward to continuing our partnership on these topics in the years to come.”