DA welcomes task force on controlling animal-borne diseases

February 28, 2020

The Department of Agriculture (DA) welcomes the executive order directing the creation of a task force that would control the spread of animal-borne diseases in the country.

"Executive Order No. 105  is a welcome development, as it further strengthens what we have been doing and enforcing to effectively manage, control and contain the African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country, in partnership with the local government units and other agencies," Assistant Agriculture Secretary Noel Reyes, DA spokesman said on Friday.

"On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, we sincerely thank   President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for issuing EO 105 to ensure  the effective coordination among concerned agencies in implementing appropriate activities under the 'whole nation approach' to effectively control the spread of ASF and other animal-borne diseases in the country, and address related issues," he added.

Reyes said under the EO 105 that was signed last Feb. 21, Duterte ordered the creation of a National Task Force on Animal-borne Diseases (NTFAD).

The NTFAD was chaired by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar and with Department of Health (DOH) Francisco Duque as vice-chair.

Reyes said "the task force members include the executive secretary, and respective secretaries of the departments of interior and local government (DILG), enironment and natural resources (DENR), trade and industry (DTI), finance (DOF), budget and management (DBM), social welfare and development (DSWD), foreign affairs (DFA), tourism (DOT), national defense (DND), labor and employment (DOLE), justice (DOJ), transportation (DOTR), commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, and director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)". Robina Asido/DMS