To help prevent disease outbreaks and reduce livestock mortality, members of the Aripdip Farmers Association (AFA) and San Dionisio Farmers Association (SDFA) under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Western Visayas participated in a Biosecurity Protocols and Risk Management Training last July 21–22, 2026.
The training equipped poultry raisers with practical knowledge and skills to protect their native chicken production enterprises from common diseases and production risks.
Dr. Pacifico Lumauag, Veterinarian III from the DA Regulatory Division, emphasized the importance of implementing proper animal health and sanitary protocols to safeguard poultry farms from disease outbreaks. He noted that biosecurity remains one of the most practical and cost-effective measures in preventing diseases such as Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease, enabling farmers to protect their livelihoods, promote animal welfare, and sustain productivity.
The two-day activity combined technical discussions with practical farm management strategies tailored to small-scale poultry enterprises. Participants learned about isolation and quarantine procedures, proper sanitation and disinfection practices, and early detection and management of disease risks.
This training addressed the current needs of the participating farmers’ associations from Barangays Aripdip and San Dionisio in San Rafael, Iloilo, as they continue to strengthen their native chicken production projects.
Through the activity, members gained the knowledge and skills needed to improve farm biosecurity, reduce production risks, and develop more resilient and sustainable poultry enterprises capable of supplying safe and quality poultry products to the municipality of San Rafael and nearby communities. ###
