The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) at Cagayan State University (CSU) in a formal ceremony held at Piat Campus received the certificate of compliance for Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) while being the first government agency to be recognized with the award nationwide.
The certificate was presented by Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Region 2 Veterinary Quarantine Officer Dr. Benjamin Ike P. Paguyu. This was received by DA-PCC OIC Center Director Dr. Rovina R. Piñera and DA-PCC OIC Executive Director Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo.
Also gracing the event were DA Usec for Livestock Dr. William Medrano, DA Regional Executive Director for Region 2 Narciso A. Edillo, RTD for Operations and Extension Dr. Roberto C. Busania, RTD for Research and Regulatory Rosemary G. Aquino, Campus Executive Officer CSU-Piat Campus Vicente Binasoy, and former DA-PCC at CSU Center Director Prof. Franklin T. Rellin.
Prof. Rellin emphasized that the agency also holds ISO 9001:2015 Certification compliant to management system for six years now and is also the first government livestock research agency certified compliant to Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
“What motivated DA-PCC at CSU to vie for GAHP certification? This vision started in one of the Program Management Committee meetings held at the national headquarters of DA-PCC in Nueva Ecija in 2010 where Dr. Libertado Cruz, former DA-PCC executive director, stated that he wants DA-PCC to become a world-class agency,” Rellin narrated.
In his closing message, Dr. Domingo also contended to have the other centers level up with DA-PCC at CSU in upholding exemplary management practices and striving for national and international recognitions.
“We can do it!,” he boosted.
GAHP is a set of principles in good practices and minimum requirements for commercial or backyard rearing of farm animals for food use. The code aims to ensure food safety and quality, protect and promote welfare of animals, promote health and safety of farm workers, and support environmental management.
