Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. created a technical working group to study the feasibility and viability of manufacturing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines in the Philippines.
Tiu Laurel said while the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recognized the Philippines as FMD-free without vaccination since 2014, the country should be prepared for potential outbreaks.
“To maintain our FMD-free status and protect against future incursions, we must explore the possibility of local FMD vaccine production,” he said.
He said that with no FMD vaccinations administered to livestock in decades, the local cattle, swine and goat populations remain vulnerable to the highly contagious disease.
The FMD cases reported in neighboring countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam further underscore the need for vigilance and preparedness, he said.
DA assistant secretary for swine and poultry Constante Palabrica was appointed chairman of the technical working group.
The team will conduct a thorough assessment of the technical, economic and regulatory aspects of establishing local FMD vaccine manufacturing capabilities.
