DA Sets Up Kidapawan City ASF, Disease Diagnostic Lab

The Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Animal Industry will soon establish a Diagnostic Laboratory for the African Swine Fever (ASF) and other livestock and poultry diseases in Kidapawan City to serve the Province of North Cotabato.
This was announced yesterday by DA Undersecretary for Poultry and Livestock Deogracias Victor Savellano following a phone conversation with Kidapawan City Mayor Paolo Evangelista who offered a space in the city to serve as the site of the diagnostic laboratory.
BAI Officer-In-Charge Dr. Hyacinth Napiloy who was present when Usec. Savellano engaged Mayor Evangelista in a phone conversation said a team from the agency’s main office in Quezon City will coordinate with the City Government to immediately undertake the directive.
BAI will also train the personnel of the City Veterinary Office on how to conduct the tests while hog farmers will be guided on how to extract blood samples from their hogs to prevent possible spread of the ASF.
The request for the establishment of a Livestock and Poultry Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory was made by Hisovi Singanon-Villarin, chairman of the Cotabato Livestock Poultry, Aquatic and Agriculture Cooperative following the reported cases of ASF in Kidapawan City and other towns of North Cotabato.
Currently, blood samples from animals are brought to General Santos City which is about 3 hours away from Kidapawan City.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
(Photo attached is for illustration purposes only. This photo was downloaded from the website of Colorado State University.)