Lab services unavailable pending transfer of office

CEBU, Philippines - An official of the Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas announced that some laboratory services, particularly the Biologics Vaccine Production Laboratory, the Regional Feed Laboratory and Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory are temporarily suspended pending transfer of location.

Angel Enriquez, regional technical director for operations of the DA-7, informed the public that the DA-7 will issue another advisory as soon as these laboratory services have been fully relocated and deemed operational.

In a press statement furnished to The FREEMAN, Enriquez mentioned of the transfer of the DA-7 office to an appropriate and accessible location from its old office in M. Velez Street, Cebu City to the KRC Building 1 (at the back of Bureau of Internal Revenue-Mandaue City and across La Tondeña Distillery) along the national highway of barangay Subangdaku.

However, other important services such as registration and issuance of certification, permits and licenses from the animal and plant quarantine offices along Arellano Boulevard (near the seaport of Cebu City) and at the Mactan Cebu International Airport will continue.

The other laboratories not affected by the transfer are the Regional Soils Lab, pesticide Analytical Lab, National Seed Quality Control Services, and the Regional Crop Protection Center which are all located at the Mandaue Experiment Station in barangay Estancia.

With the move to transfer to a new office, the DA-7 asks the public’s “kind indulgence and consideration” to any inconvenience arising from its transfer of operation.

Enriquez further said that despite the transfer of office, DA-7 assures the public and its partner clients – farmers and fisherfolk – in the region of its continued commitment to efficiently and effectively serve them.

“It would endeavor to immediately inform the public of any developments arising from the said transfer though the regional office has determined that such has a very negligible effect on the field implementation of its programs and projects in the four provinces in the region,” she added. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)