MAGALANG -- Animal health and disease research received a big boost as Agriculture Secretary William Dar formally opened the Animal Disease Diagnostic Research Facility (ADDRF) inside the Pampanga State Agriculture University (PSAU).
The new facility was built at PSAU due to the considerable livestock and poultry productions of Central Luzon. Pampanga and Bulacan boast of the highest population density for poultry and tilapia, and the facility will serve as a strategic center for animal disease control in Region III.
According to Dar, the center, which was established in collaboration with the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Bureau of Agricultural Research, aims to elevate knowledge in animal disease and develop preventive measures.
Dar said the facility aims to support the "government's campaign for food security, safety and sustainability, seeks to form a synergy of efforts and initiatives among animal health practitioners, through the use of modern equipment and leading technologies."
The facility was established in support to the agriculture and fishery sector of Pampanga and nearby provinces, which include livestock, poultry, small and large ruminants, and fisheries.
It has the capability to detect African Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, and New Castle Disease, among others.