CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 reiterates its commitment to ensure the region’s compliance with regulations and standards on animal welfare and management.
On June 19, DA-10 through its Regulatory Division convened with representatives from its attached agencies and bureaus, as well as concerned partners from the local government, to discuss the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, NMACLRC chief Carmelito R. Lapoot welcomed the participants and enjoined their full participation to the activity, underscoring the same as a vital mechanism by which the Department is able to ensure the coordinated inter-agency approach toward animal welfare and safety in Northern Mindanao.
He added that the activity guides the concerned government instrumentalities to ensure that government-owned facilities remain as ‘model’ establishments for partners and stakeholders from the private sector.
“Through this activity, we at the DA can revisit our compliance to animal industry standards and regulations, which determines our performance through in-house and external evaluations. Perhaps we can discuss these here today and agree on the ways forward, especially on areas of concern we may identify along the way,” Lapoot said.
DA-10 Veterinarian II and AWA focal person Dianara Celeste O. Ua-o, DVM apprised the participants on the salient provisions of the AWA, as well as the duties and functions of the DA Committee on Animal Welfare, composed of government agencies, professional organizations, and non-governmental organizations with a shared interest in animal welfare.
Meanwhile, Registration and Licensing Section chief Rhea Villa R. Chiu, DVM, also discussed the minimum standards for the welfare of animals, as well as the requirements for the registration of government-owned and operated animal facilities.
Chiu said that, pursuant to DA Administrative Circular 4 series of 2015, a Certificate of Registration issued by the DA-Bureau of Animal Industry is a prerequisite for all animal facilities to legally operate. These include but are not limited to animal control facilities, laboratory animal facilities, pet shops, aviary, cattery, as well as hog, poultry, cattle, and goat farms.
Chiu added that interested groups or individuals may coordinate with the Regulatory Division for registration assistance, animal facility inspection, and issuance of the aforementioned certificate.
Further, participants were also briefed on ASEAN biosecurity management protocols for commercial farming which include basic concepts of farm-level biosecurity, diseases of concern and bioexclusion and biocontainment measures, and operational biosecurity procedures which outline farm, personnel, and operational standards.
Participants were also able to discuss the practical application of said technical guidance and concerns on its implementation at the local level through the activity’s workshop and open forum component.
Present during the event were representatives from the DA-10 Research Center for Hillyland Development, Research Center for Upland Development, and the NMACLRC; representatives from the NorMin offices of the National Dairy Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, and Bureau of Animal Industry – National Beef Cattle Research and Development Center; and the Provincial Veterinary Office of Bukidnon.# (GDA)
