MANILA, Philippines- Pinalakas ng Department of Agriculture (DA) at Food and Drug Administration (FD) ang kanilang pwersa para sa regulasyon at pag-rollout ng mga bakuna para sa Avian Influenza at African Swine Fever.
Sa katunayan, sinabi ng DA na ang mga opisyal ng attached agency nito na Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) at FDA ay nagpulong noong May 19 kung saan pinag-usapan ang updates sa ASF at AI vaccine candidates bilang bahagi ng direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na protektahan ang sektor ng baboy at manok na mahalaga para sa food security at paglikha ng trabaho.
Ang miting ay dinaluhan ni Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock Dr. Constante Palabrica at bagong itinalagang FDA Director General Atty. Paolo Teston.
Kapwa nagpahayag ang mga nasabing ahensya ng kumpiyansa para sa posibleng commercial rollout ng ASF at AI vaccines posible bago matapos ang 2025.
“Some vaccines are currently undergoing field trials, while others are being reviewed by the BAI Veterinary Technical Advisory Committee (VTAC). Several vaccine candidates, meanwhile, have already been endorsed to the FDA for further evaluation and approval,” ang sinabi ng departamento.
Pormal namang ire-refer ng BAI ang mga aplikante sa FDA, upang sa gayon ay makapagbigay ng regulatory feedback at gabay sa mga kinauukulang hakbang.
Magbibigay din ang National African Swine Fever Prevention and Control Program ng BAI ng updates sa pag-rollout ng Live Attenuated ASF vaccine, kabilang dito ang data na ginagamit.
“Strengthening coordination between the DA and FDA is key to ensuring timely and effective vaccine approval. This will help maintain animal health and support the resilience of our livestock and poultry industries as we prepare for the vaccines’ commercial use. We must have regulatory systems in place that guarantee safe and effective implementation,” ang sinabi ni Palabrica.
Tinugunan din ng miting ang mga alalahanin hinggil sa illegal online sales ng unregistered vaccines, ayon sa Agriculture Department.
Gayunman, nilinaw ng FDA, na ang pagpapatupad ay bumagsak sa ilalim ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Para pag-usapan ito, nagpunakala ang ahensya ng joint policy at implementasyon ng framework kabilang ang DA, FDA, DICT, at Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“To strengthen border controls, FDA agreed with the DA Office of the Secretary Chief of Staff Atty. Alvin John F. Balagbag’s proposal for joint DA-FDA inspections of processed agricultural imports. This initiative aims to prevent technical smuggling and stop the misdeclaration of unprocessed products to bypass inspections at ports of entry,” ayon pa rin sa DA.
“This enhanced partnership between the DA and FDA underscores the vital role of vaccines in protecting animal health, supporting Filipino farmers, and ensuring the nation’s food security,” dagdag nito. RNT/SA
