An Abra lawmaker has pressed the Department of Agriculture to reinforce disease prevention for livestock, warning that extended dry conditions linked to El Niño may trigger more outbreaks and endanger food security.
The appeal follows the recent detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in backyard birds in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, which was cited as an early signal of drought-related risks.
Prolonged heat stress, water shortages, and poor nutrition weaken farm animals' immune systems, leaving them far more vulnerable to infection.
The lawmaker urged the agriculture department to act before conditions deteriorate, calling for preventive steps to limit the spread of livestock disease.
Protecting livestock is critical for both farmer livelihoods and national food stability, as losses in the sector could tighten supply and push up prices for households.
