RP, Taiwan tie up to prevent livestock diseases

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and the Taiwanese governments have agreed to work together in order to prevent and control the spread of livestock diseases.

Resident representative Antonio I. Basilio of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), and his Taiwanese counterpart, Representative Donald Lee of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, have signed an agreement to foster technical cooperation between the two countries.

In a statement, Basilio said this area of cooperation was one of the highlights of the 4th Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Agriculture between the Philippines and Taiwan held in Taipei earlier this month.

Under the technical cooperation, the Philippines and Taiwan agreed to cooperate in the fight against livestock diseases through the exchange of experts, sharing of diagnostic experiences and techniques, and participation in trainings and workshops.

According to the Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister and meeting co-chair, Cheng-Taung Wang, Taiwan particularly wants parallel efforts in the prevention and control of the classical swine fever which afflicts the pig population of the two close neighbors.

Veterinary scientists from the Animal Health Research Institute of Taiwan, who are experienced in laboratory diagnosis and the use of vaccines to prevent and control classical swine fever, are ready to share their experience and expertise with their Filipino counterparts via training and workshops both in Taiwan and the Philippines.

Wang’s Philippine counterpart, DA Undersecretary Salvador Salacup, welcomed the technical cooperation being offered by Taiwan, especially in light of the common concern to effectively address the problem of livestock diseases which are not only an economic problem but also a health concern for Filipinos and Taiwanese alike.

Salacup also stressed that the joint effort is further proof of the deepening and expanding ties between the Philippines and Taiwan in the field of agriculture.