The UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM), UPLB Program on Zoonotic Diseases (UPLB-PZD), and international and local partners hosted the PREventing Zoonotic Diseases Emergence (PREZODE) Meeting and Workshop on February 22, 2024 at the New World Makati Hotel in Makati City. 

The “One Health in Action: Launching PREZODE in the Philippines” aims to mitigate the risks of pandemic-potential diseases by alleviating pressures on biodiversity and reinforcing the One Health approach. 

It was held in collaboration with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the GREASE Network, the International Livestock and Research Institute (ILRI), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, and the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines. 

The GREASE Network, or Gestion des Risques Emergents en Asie du Sud-Est, is a regional network on emergent risk management in Southeast Asia. It is coordinated by the CIRAD office at Kasetsart University in Bangkok. 

This initiative is critical in addressing the escalating threat of diseases with pandemic potential. It represents a proactive response to the dire need for global cooperation in mitigating the risks posed by zoonotic diseases, emphasizing the link between biodiversity conservation and health security.

This gathering highlighted the operationalization of PREZODE in the Philippines, showcasing a comprehensive database of One Health initiatives and stakeholders in the country, methodologies in project development by French operators, and discussions on One Health priorities within the country.

“The challenges presented by zoonotic diseases, exemplified by the recent global pandemic, have vividly highlighted the essential interconnectedness of our health ecosystems,” said Dr. Elpidio Agbisit, Jr., dean of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS). He emphasized the university’s commitment not only to academic excellence but also to playing a proactive role in addressing the complex issues at the nexus of biodiversity conservation and health resilience. 

Representatives from various institutions, organizations, and sectors active in One Health efforts across the Philippines attended this collaborative event.

The Department of Agriculture, the National Academy of Science and Technology, and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development were represented in the event. 

Also represented were international organizations Food and Agriculture Organization  Philippines, Canal France International, and the International Livestock Research Institute. 

Academic and research institutions were represented by the Philippine One Health University Network, University of the Philippines-Manila, UPLB, through CAFS, College of Development Communication, College of Human Ecology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, the UPLB Graduate School, the UPLB-PZD, and Central Mindanao University.

PREZODE is set to deepen its impact and extend its reach. UPLB SESAM serves as part of its technical working group for Pillar 5: Engage stakeholders and co-design One Health networks and policies. This underscores SESAM’s commitment to integrating scientific research with policy and community action, marking a significant stride toward achieving PREZODE’s goals for a healthier and more resilient global ecosystem. (Jewel S. Cabrera & Laurenz B. Cruz)