GAHP AWARENESS OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY RAISERS IN MAGUINDANAO ENHANCED
Led by MAFAR-Maguindanao, the activity was attended by 57 participants composed of Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and livestock and poultry raisers from the different municipalities of the province.
On behalf of Minister Mohammad S. Yacob of MAFAR-BARMM, Regional Operation Director Keise T. Usman mentioned in his opening message that livestock is one of the banner programs of the ministry that needs to be implemented within the last quarter of 2019.
According to Regional GAHP and Provincial Livestock Coordinator Saban B. Belongan, the main goal of GAHP is to disseminate awareness on good livestock and poultry raising practices as requirement for certification and accreditation as livestock farms in the country.
For this, the objective of the activity is to initially ensure that the farming practices of every establishment provide greater confidence in the consumers’ expectations that the final products are safe and fit to human consumption, while ensuring health, safety and comfort to both the farm workers and the animals, without any degradation to the environment.
Dr. Amado A. Antonio of Buraeu of Animal Industry (BAI) discussed about the Food Safety Act of 2013, an act that strenghtens the food safety regulatory system in the country to protect the consumer health and facilitate market access of local food and food products, and for other purposes, while Dr. Zharinah D. Mangindra, Regional Livestock Coordinator of MAFAR-BARMM, shared updates on AntiMicrobial Resistance (AMR) to the participants.
Meanwhile, MAFAR-BARMM Regional Animal Health Program Coordinator Dr. Raheima A. Mangindra discussed the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 or Republic Act 8485. Accordingly, the act protects and promotes the welfare of all animals in the Philippines by supervising and regulating the establishment and operations of all facilities utilized for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating or training of all animals either as objects of trade or as household pets.
Dr. Lourdes R. Ersando, National GAHP Focal Person, who also gave the closing message, presented the Philippine National Standards (PNS): Code of GAHP.
Aimed at supplying precise information to the participants, Dr. Antonio further gave updates on GAHP certification and the required process to avail of the program.
With the employees of MAFAR from the regional and provincial offices, Regional Chief of Staff Arphia Ebus and Regional Regulatory Division Chief Susan Y. Unggel actively participated in the activity.