Transforming Animal Health Policy in the Philippines: An APCOVE Impact Story
How APCOVE training empowered a local veterinarian to lead outbreak response and drive change
When African Swine Fever (ASF) threatened the livelihoods of farmers in Bais City, Philippines, City Veterinarian Melanie Flores-Pescadilla stepped up to lead a coordinated outbreak response. Drawing on skills gained through the Asia Pacific Consortium of Veterinary Epidemiology (APCOVE) Field Epidemiology Training, she combined science, policy, and community engagement to contain the disease and protect her city’s smallholder swine sector.
With over two decades of public service, Melanie has transformed her role from veterinarian to adviser to policymakers, shaping evidence-based programs that continue to strengthen animal and public health in her community. Her journey illustrates how APCOVE training is helping veterinarians across the region turn research into action and resilience.
Learning Beyond Data: Lessons from APCOVE
For Melanie, the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training was more than a technical course; it was a turning point in how she understood and approached disease.
“Epidemiology is not just about data analysis. It is about understanding disease holistically and translating science into policies and programs that communities can accept and implement.”
The training broadened her perspective on managing disease challenges, equipping her with tools to conduct surveillance, assess risks, and design interventions that move beyond research into real-world action.
With these skills, Melanie gained the confidence to share her knowledge with other local governments and apply epidemiology directly in her daily responsibilities. From ASF to rabies prevention, she has since led programs that combine technical rigor with community-based solutions, turning evidence into resilience.
Responding to the ASF Outbreak
When ASF reached the Philippines in 2019, it spread rapidly and devastated swine populations. In Bais City, where smallholder farmers make up the entire sector, the impact was severe. Many lacked the infrastructure needed to implement biosecurity practices that could stop the spread of the virus.
As Incident Commander, Melanie applied what she had learned from APCOVE to design a coordinated local response. Her team carried out risk assessments, strengthened surveillance and monitoring systems, introduced biosecurity measures, and conducted awareness campaigns to educate farmers, village leaders and communities.
These strategies proved effective. On 20 August 2023, barely 40 days after the index case was confirmed in the city, ASF was declared successfully contained in Bais City. The achievement demonstrated how epidemiological training, combined with collaboration across government departments, agencies, and communities, could protect both livelihoods and food security in a time of crisis.
Research Driving Change: The APCOVE Field Project
A core part of the APCOVE training was a six-month field project, designed to let participants apply epidemiology skills directly in their own contexts. For Melanie, this became a pivotal opportunity.
She led a study on the Assessment and Strengthening of Biosecurity Practices of Swine Farms in Bais City, Negros Oriental, covering 35 villages and funded through APCOVE with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Using structured questionnaires and a biosecurity audit tool developed by the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners (PCSP) and adapted by the Department of Agriculture, the study identified critical gaps in farm practices that left smallholders exposed to disease risks.
The results went beyond academic insight. They became the basis for the crafting of Bais City Veterinary Code, a comprehensive ordinance that reshaped local governance of animal health. The Code established farm registration requirements, strengthened biosecurity protocols, and emphasized the One Health approach. It also clarified the responsibilities of village leaders in disease prevention and expanded local policy to address other animal diseases of both public health and economic significance.
This project showed the power of embedding research within local government. Instead of sitting on a shelf, the findings were translated into policy and practice, directly influencing how Bais City builds resilience against animal diseases.
From Local Success to Wider Influence
Developing and implementing the Veterinary Code gave Melanie confidence and credibility, turning a city-level project into a platform for guiding biosecurity planning in other local governments. She shared research and lessons with neighboring councils and contributed to national discussions, helping shape policies on ASF, AMR, and other animal health challenges.
In 2024, the FAO selected Bais City as a site for the Community ASF Biosecurity Intervention (CABI) Project. As Project Leader, Melanie mobilized community awareness and action on biosecurity. She also developed the Biosecurity Framework for Smallholder Systems, ensuring national guidelines reflected the realities of rural farming.
Her current focus is building Biosecurity Champions, empowering farmers to mentor peers and multiply the impact of training. What began as a six-month APCOVE project has grown into a framework influencing animal health policy locally and nationally.
Melanie Flores-Pescadilla’s journey shows how training, research, and evidence-based practice can transform local governance and national policy. From leading ASF response in Bais City to shaping smallholder farm biosecurity guidelines across the Philippines, her work demonstrates the lasting value of APCOVE training. By equipping veterinarians with the skills to translate science into action, APCOVE is helping to build healthier, more resilient communities across the Asia-Pacific.
