MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
McMullan
Poor farmers and rural communities will benefit from Australia's assistance to the Philippines Government to finally eradicate foot and mouth disease.
Australia will provide $865,000 from 2008 to 2010 for disease preparedness, management and prevention, including 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 provide 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.
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 achieved international certification as disease-free with assistance from the Australian Government.
Since 1996, Australia has contributed $9 million to help the Philippines eradicate the highly contagious disease which affects cattle and pigs. Though animals eventually recover from foot and mouth disease, it can also lead to death especially in newborn animals.
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 costs farmers many millions of dollars in losses and severely constrains 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 notably the international certification of Visayas and Mindanao as disease-free. Visayas and Mindanao account for about 50 per cent of swine production in the Philippines.
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.
This is an example of the way in which Australia, through its development assistance program, is helping countries like the Philippines enhance their prospects for economic growth.
Media Contact: Sabina Curatolo (Mr McMullan's Office) 0400 318 20
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590