The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) welcomed representatives from the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) in a courtesy visit held as part of the Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean (ASEACA) Program launch in the Philippines.
The ASEACA Program is a CIRAD-led One Health initiative aimed at preventing the emergence of zoonotic diseases across Southeast Asia. The meeting served as a platform to explore potential areas of collaboration, particularly in strengthening One Health policies and advancing research and development (R&D) efforts through the program.
Dr. Daan Vink, Evaluative Epidemiologist of CIRAD, introduced the PREventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence (PREZODE) initiative, highlighting prevention as key to managing emerging diseases. ASEACA, as part of the PREZODE in Action in the Global South (PREACTS), will be implemented from 2026 to 2029, focusing on risk understanding, risk reduction, early warning systems, and cross-sector collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Rico Ancog, Deputy Director for Administration of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), highlighted that existing DOST-PCAARRD-supported initiatives, such as on animal and plant health, disease surveillance, and biosecurity, align closely with ASEACA priorities. He emphasized the Council’s potential role in strengthening policy support and contributing to a joint One Health portfolio with CIRAD and partners such as SEARCA.
The program, being implemented in the Philippines by SEARCA, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), and Central Mindanao University (CMU), will pilot in Pampanga and Bukidnon, focusing on priority zoonotic diseases such as rabies, avian influenza, African swine fever, and leptospirosis. It aims to deliver sustainable and scalable interventions tailored to local contexts.
In closing, DOST-PCAARRD expressed openness to collaborate and leverage its consortia system to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, reinforcing its commitment to advancing an integrated One Health approach in the country.
