PVMA President's Message

 

Greetings my esteemed colleagues! 

This year’s theme “One World, One Health” in the recently held 77th Annual Convention and Scientific Conference of PVMA recognizes the need to strengthen a society with a unified approach in responding to emerging human and animal diseases posing significant threat to the society. As reported by World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), of the known human infectious diseases, 60% have their source in animals, 75% are emerging human diseases.

Estimates suggest that the world’s production of food animals is significantly reduced by 20% due to diseases and climate change. The escalating demand of the growing world population to be fed with a healthy diet poses a challenge and is a great responsibility. The rapidly changing landscape of global trade of commodities and the movement of people and animals provide pathogens the opportunity to get transmitted more rapidly around the world and develop mechanisms to adapt to its environment, to which climate change has also played a significant and varied role. These all have its impact on the sustainability of a growing human population.

The well-coordinated efforts of the veterinary services and public health agencies deserve to be commended. They continuously work, and are encouraged to work harder, in cooperation with allied agencies in medical sciences as we adopt a more consistent system of health governance to address national, regional, and local concerns to establish a sound veterinary health code and legislation at par with the global standards.

The regulatory framework must be translated into concrete actions at the level of the farm and related premises. The success of the various programs will depend largely on the cooperation of the stakeholders particularly the private sector, down to the livestock producers, the processors, and the consumers. 

The Veterinarian, being at the forefront of safeguarding the health and welfare of the animals, foremost, serves to protect the interest of mankind in protecting its means of livelihood and source of food, promote the conservation of natural resources and ecological biodiversity, and champion the value of human-animal relationship. 

As the PVMA hosts the 16th Federation of Asian Veterinary Association (FAVA) Congress, themed “Convergence and Cooperation in Addressing Animal Health, Free Trade and Environmental Issues,” concurrent with the PVMA’s 78th Annual Convention and Scientific Conference in Cebu City, in the Visayas on February 15-18, 2011  we recognize once again a monumental opportunity for the Filipino veterinarian to work with Asian colleagues by participating in the various  programs and discussions that will promote unity and cooperation in addressing veterinary health issues and those that govern free trade and environmental policies in the region. With this opportunity to represent the country’s humble interest in the international community, a strong support from our esteemed PVMA members is therefore asked.  

The PVMA Chapters, it’s Affiliates, and the Standing Councils take an active role in carrying out the programs and the achievement of goals of the PVMA. Efficient communication is made possible by the assignment of coordinators to each institution so that assortment of issues and concerns will be immediately addressed. Our collegial and specialty bodies are strong pillars in the crafting of policies such as the establishment of technical standards for the practice of Veterinary Medicine in various animal species- swine, poultry, ruminants, equine, companion animals, and exotic and wildlife. Their contribution will be incorporated in the Philippine Code of Veterinary Standards which is essentially needed and must be made available to every practitioner. Diligent and prompt attention is humbly asked from these institutions to advance further the accomplishment of these and more projects. 

The PVMA Home is ever ready to facilitate the communication of various concerns arising from carrying out our duties as Veterinarians. Moreover, the PVMA website serves an avenue to keep the Filipino Veterinarian informed and involved in the various projects, programs, and activities of the association, its chapters, affiliates, and standing councils. Through our web site, we strongly encourage an interactive communication between us and the members.  

As we acknowledge the PVMA as the governing body that safeguards the veterinary profession as well as equip the Filipino Veterinarian through its Continuing Professional Education/ Continuing Professional Development (CPE/CPD) program, I encourage all veterinarians to strive to keep themselves abreast of the latest veterinary issues and continue to be knowledgeable and proficient in their chosen fields now more than ever as the veterinarian’s role is increasingly recognized with the management and mitigation of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

The National Officers and the Board of Directors once again take this bold step to persistently work to strengthen our course and direction. We shall do our best to perform the tasks and responsibility entrusted to us.

Thank you and Mabuhay.

 

 

DR. RUSTAN V. PATACSIL

PVMA National President

 

Greetings my esteemed colleagues! 
This year’s theme “One World, One Health” in the recently held 77th Annual Convention and Scientific Conference of PVMA recognizes the need to strengthen a society with a unified approach in responding to emerging human and animal diseases posing significant threat to the society. As reported by World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), of the known human infectious diseases, 60% have their source in animals, 75% are emerging human diseases.
Estimates suggest that the world’s production of food animals is significantly reduced by 20% due to diseases and climate change. The escalating demand of the growing world population to be fed with a healthy diet poses a challenge and is a great responsibility. The rapidly changing landscape of global trade of commodities and the movement of people and animals provide pathogens the opportunity to get transmitted more rapidly around the world and develop mechanisms to adapt to its environment, to which climate change has also played a significant and varied role. These all have its impact on the sustainability of a growing human population.
The well-coordinated efforts of the veterinary services and public health agencies deserve to be commended. They continuously work, and are encouraged to work harder, in cooperation with allied agencies in medical sciences as we adopt a more consistent system of health governance to address national, regional, and local concerns to establish a sound veterinary health code and legislation at par with the global standards.
The regulatory framework must be translated into concrete actions at the level of the farm and related premises. The success of the various programs will depend largely on the cooperation of the stakeholders particularly the private sector, down to the livestock producers, the processors, and the consumers. 
The Veterinarian, being at the forefront of safeguarding the health and welfare of the animals, foremost, serves to protect the interest of mankind in protecting its means of livelihood and source of food, promote the conservation of natural resources and ecological biodiversity, and champion the value of human-animal relationship. 
As the PVMA hosts the 16th Federation of Asian Veterinary Association (FAVA) Congress, themed “Convergence and Cooperation in Addressing Animal Health, Free Trade and Environmental Issues,” concurrent with the PVMA’s 78th Annual Convention and Scientific Conference in Cebu City, in the Visayas on February 15-18, 2011  we recognize once again a monumental opportunity for the Filipino veterinarian to work with Asian colleagues by participating in the various  programs and discussions that will promote unity and cooperation in addressing veterinary health issues and those that govern free trade and environmental policies in the region. With this opportunity to represent the country’s humble interest in the international community, a strong support from our esteemed PVMA members is therefore asked.  
The PVMA Chapters, it’s Affiliates, and the Standing Councils take an active role in carrying out the programs and the achievement of goals of the PVMA. Efficient communication is made possible by the assignment of coordinators to each institution so that assortment of issues and concerns will be immediately addressed. Our collegial and specialty bodies are strong pillars in the crafting of policies such as the establishment of technical standards for the practice of Veterinary Medicine in various animal species- swine, poultry, ruminants, equine, companion animals, and exotic and wildlife. Their contribution will be incorporated in the Philippine Code of Veterinary Standards which is essentially needed and must be made available to every practitioner. Diligent and prompt attention is humbly asked from these institutions to advance further the accomplishment of these and more projects. 
The PVMA Home is ever ready to facilitate the communication of various concerns arising from carrying out our duties as Veterinarians. Moreover, the PVMA website serves an avenue to keep the Filipino Veterinarian informed and involved in the various projects, programs, and activities of the association, its chapters, affiliates, and standing councils. Through our web site, we strongly encourage an interactive communication between us and the members.  
As we acknowledge the PVMA as the governing body that safeguards the veterinary profession as well as equip the Filipino Veterinarian through its Continuing Professional Education/ Continuing Professional Development (CPE/CPD) program, I encourage all veterinarians to strive to keep themselves abreast of the latest veterinary issues and continue to be knowledgeable and proficient in their chosen fields now more than ever as the veterinarian’s role is increasingly recognized with the management and mitigation of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
The National Officers and the Board of Directors once again take this bold step to persistently work to strengthen our course and direction. We shall do our best to perform the tasks and responsibility entrusted to us.
Thank you and Mabuhay.
DR. RUSTAN V. PATACSIL
PVMA National President

 

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