ILOILO City – Local state universities and colleges are being tapped to help the national government, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA), come up with technology-based solutions to African Swine Fever (ASF) and avian influenza or bird flu.
Engr. Rowen Gelonga, director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 6, said local academic institutions are exploring possible research projects addressing emerging livestock problems for funding support from the national government.
“We still have to see the research proposals. I am sure the entire research community is looking at various areas para ma-address ang aton mga livestock diseases,” said Gelonga.
The provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras have ASF cases while the first cases of bird flu were logged in Capiz.
Gelonga said DOST has supported companies develop diagnostic capabilities such as for dengue and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and now it is pushing for such intended for livestock diseases.
“I hope ma-amat-amat expand ang aton mga research and development outputs related to these diseases,” he added.
Gelonga believes it is crucial to be proactive in addressing livestock diseases, and that means observing good agricultural, animal husbandry and aquaculture practices.
“Medyo mabudlay mangita sang solutions kon ara na ang problema but if we come up with a very good biosecurity system, very good agriculture system, we can minimize the occurrence of these diseases,” Gelonga explained.
“While we are still trying to develop technologies, we can already impart to our stakeholders the different skills and knowledge needed to avoid ‘yung paglapta sining mga diseases. Prevention is still better than cure and that is what we can do right now,” he added.
DOST-6 can also extend technical and consultancy assistance to hog raisers and other livestock growers, said Gelonga. He cited, for instance, in terms of value-adding of pork and poultry products.
Under the department’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Set-up (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program), the regional office can give hog raisers and livestock growers a wide range of technical services from technology transfer, trainings not only on value-adding but in the area of good animal husbandry practices as well as agriculture practices.
“We can teach them about food safety which is very crucial not only for our hog raisers but also for companies involved in the food production value chain,” he said.
In Iloilo City, DOST-6 is partnering with the city government in training food vendors on food safety.
Gelonga said they are taking advantage of the opportunity to train the local vendors while the city’s public markets are still being rehabilitated.
“Samtang indi pa ready ang aton physical facilities, i-train naton sila sa food safety so when they go back parang we have better facilities, we have better competencies. Ginatudloan naton sila to make sure what we deliver or sell to our consumers meet food safety standards, because it redounds to the benefit of everyone,” he added./PN
