In February 2021, the implementation of an ADM Cares program in the Philippines started with a grant. The request for the grant was made possible through the initiative of the Wisium Philippines team.
It all started with an invitation to look for a cause, be significant, and be relevant amidst the trying times during the peak of African Swine Fever virus outbreak in the country. Indeed, the Philippine archipelago is one of the main focus areas to fight this highly contagious animal disease. Therefore, Wisium has decided to commit by connecting and supporting local advocacies related to ASF alongside with the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners (PCSP).
Wisium and ADM Cares support the PCSP’s project named “Bantay ASF sa Barangay”. This project aims at educating, managing surveillance of ASF incidence, and supporting repopulation and influence turnaround of the country’s swine economic system and its stakeholders. This program is now adopted for national implementation by the Department of Agriculture of the country.
Concretely, equivalent supply of ASF rapid test kits intended to monitor 7,000 pigs in the Northern Mindanao region were distributed in Iligan City and Misamis Oriental to promote strict biosecurity. PCR test kits were also made available for validation of results. The management of livestock farms and economic flow of the pilot barangays were identified to prevent further spread of ASF Outbreak.
participants from the provincial veterinary office of misamis oriental, philippines
Participants from Provincial Veterinary Office of Misamis Oriental, Philippines
Furthermore, the training of volunteers, the deployment of campaign materials and educational seminars were also supported by the ADM Cares grant that benefited the pilot barangays. The campaigns were headed by the City Veterinarian – Dr. Dahlia Molo-Valera, and by Misamis Oriental Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Benjamin Resma.
The Wisium team passionately volunteered in the program.
On January 26, 2021, trainings for biosecurity and surveillance were conducted by the International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) to deputize volunteers of the said project. Wisium, ADM Cares, the PCSP, the local government units, swine farmers and volunteers actively continue the “Bantay ASF sa Barangay” project in Iligan City, and Misamis Oriental to protect pigs from ASF and to develop a working model for its expansion.
