- Home
- About us
- Visas and migration
- Travelling to Australia
- Services for Australians
- Doing business with Australia
- Study in Australia
- Development cooperation
- Defence
- About Australia
- Events
- Media
- Australia - The Philippines relationship
AUSTRALIA HELPS TO KEEP PHILIPPINES FREE OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
Australia will provide further funding of Php 32.8 million (A$865,000) to assist the Philippines Government finally eradicate foot and mouth disease.
Luzon is the only major Philippine island yet to be internationally certified as foot and mouth disease-free by the World Organisation for Animal Health. The other two major island groups, Visayas and Mindanao, have earlier achieved international certification as disease-free with assistance from Australia.
A ceremonial signing of the project agreement between the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) was held on 28 February during the founding anniversary of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the attached agency under the DA implementing the foot and mouth disease eradication program.
DA Undersecretary Atty Bernie Fondevilla, Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Stephen Scott, and FAO Representative Mr Kazuyuki Tsurumi signed the donor agreement for the additional support to foot and mouth disease eradication in the presence BAI Director Dr Davinio Catbagan.
Since 1996, Australia has contributed $9 million to help the Philippines eradicate the highly contagious disease which affects cattle and pigs. The disease causes high fever, blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that that may rupture and cause lameness. Though animals eventually recover from FMD, it can also lead to death especially in newborn animals.
Australia’s assistance is focussing on advocacy and information, improving preparedness for an outbreak, improving documentation on infections, monitoring animal shipments and the creation of a permanent Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Unit at both national and local government level.
International recognition of the Philippines as disease-free will help make its livestock industry internationally competitive, providing Filipino farmers more opportunities to take part in the global livestock trade.
Domestically, disease–free status will mean lower operational costs for both commercial and backyard farmers, and economic benefits for poor rural communities and subsistence farmers in the livestock sector through improved meat trading capacity.
Australia has worked with the Philippines on foot and mouth disease eradication for more than 10 years, starting in 1996 when outbreaks were at almost epidemic proportions. The disease cost farmers many millions of dollars in losses and severely constrained economic opportunities for the livestock sector.
Australia initially provided support to build the capacity of the national government to control the disease. The earlier phases of the control and eradication project met considerable success, most notable of which was the international certification of Visayas and Mindanao as disease-free. Visayas and Mindanao accounts for about 50% share in the Philippines swine production.
The project also helped improve the Philippines’ surveillance, monitoring and prevention of outbreaks. From a high of 1553 outbreaks affecting more than 98 000 animals in 1995, the project is now working to maintain the country’s zero-case scenario since 2006.
Australia, through its development assistance program, is helping the Philippines enhance its prospects for economic growth.