MANILA: The Philippines has formed a task force to prevent the entry of animal-borne diseases.
This comes as the government seeks to control the spread of the African swine fever (ASF) in the country.
Headed by President Rodrigo Duterte, the task force is aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of such diseases.
Duterte signed Executive Order 105 on Feb 21, creating the National Task Force on Animal-Borne Diseases.
“The current ASF outbreak, which poses catastrophic effects on the Philippines’ swine industry, the production supply chain and the economy as a whole, requires drastic disease control and preventive measures, including mass culling of the affected hog production,” he said in his order.
The task force will be chaired by Agriculture Secretary William Dar and co-headed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd.
According to the Manila Times, the ASF is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs. No cure has yet been developed.
The task force will develop and implement a national public awareness campaign on animal-borne diseases that may pose a threat to the country, as well as prepare and submit timely reports on the status of animal-borne diseases, including the ASF virus.
The Philippines confirmed its first case of ASF in September last year, prompting a ban on meat products from countries, where the hog disease was first reported.
Other members of the task force include the heads of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Finance, Budget and Management, Social Welfare and Development, Foreign Affairs, Transportation, National Defence, Labour and Employment, Justice, and Tourism.
The Customs commissioner and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general are also members of the body.
Duterte’s order was issued a day after he met with Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, and local government officials in Malacanang to discuss the ASF outbreak.