The Department of Agriculture here stands confident that the region has already attained an FMD-free status as indicated by a zero use of FMD vaccines by all provincial veterinary offices since August last year.

The cessation of vaccine utilization, said Dr. Romy Manalili, FMD task force chairman, was also in compliance with the directive of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap ordering the withdrawal of vaccination of FMD in the Philippines as contained in DA’s Administrative Order No. 12 series of 2009 issued in June.

Manalili said the order strictly enforces importation ban on FMD vaccines except only through government intervention in case of emergency.

Yap also laid down in the order the inventory of all currently available FMD vaccines in the country and turning these over to the government for safekeeping and documentation purposes.

The DA, in a related development, likewise institutionalized a standard shipping protocol system including animal movement control such as issuances of veterinary health certificates, permit system for shipment of animals, animal products and by-products and farm inspection and accreditation system.

Meanwhile, Manalili related that Central Luzon’s effort to control and eradicate FMD has resulted in total control and eventual eradication of the disease in the area.

Members of the task force, in a consensus, recognize the vitality of being internationally recognized as FMD-free, saying this would greatly help to enable the region’s livestock industry to survive market globalization.

It was learned that the islands of Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate had already been declared FMD-free zones by the World Organization for Animal Health.

“Central Luzon’s bid for the recognition is within our reach,” Manalili ended. William L. Beltran