Tolentino asks DOH, BAI to help farmers vs. ASF, bird flu

Senator Francis Tolentino on Saturday urged the new leadership of the Department of Health (DOH) to collaborate with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to help farmers with the country's problem with African Swine Flu (ASF) and Avian Influenza Flu.

In a radio interview, Tolentino asked newly appointed DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa if there’s a way for hog and poultry farmers to directly access vaccines for ASF and bird flu since the current policy only allows them to have a limited number of doses.

“Pwede po bang magtulungan ang Department of Health at Bureau of Animal Industry? Para naman siguro etong kakulangan sa bakuna sa ating mga poultry products at sa ating mga baboy ay matulungan natin ang ating mga magsasaka,” he said.

(Can the Department of Health and the Bureau of Animal Industry work together? Maybe with this lack of vaccine in our poultry products and in our pigs, we can help our farmers.)

“Marami po tayong mga magsasaka na nahihirapan sa pronouncement ng Bureau of Animal Industry na yung bakuna para sa swine flu eh 400 o 600 at may kamahalan,” he noted.

(We have many farmers who are struggling with the pronouncement of the Bureau of Animal Industry that the vaccine for swine flu is 400 or 600 and it's a little expensive.)

Tolentino mentioned that during his recent visit to Pampanga, he talked to some hog raisers and poultry operators who are willing to directly purchase vaccines for the sake of maintaining their respective livelihoods. However, the number of doses from BAI will not be enough to cover all the animals on their farms.

Herbosa then heeded Tolentino's suggestion and said that he will immediately reach out to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to find out how they could collaborate on the matter.

Tolentino recently filed Senate Resolution No. 580 seeking to determine the appropriate government actions in preventing and controlling another possible outbreak of bird flu in the country. —VAL, GMA Integrated News