Status of Aquaculture Component of the Philippine National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance

The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in order to address the issue on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), actively participated in the efforts of the Department of Health in response to the call of the Tripartite Collaboration on AMR, i.e. the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to develop country National Action Plans on AMR using the One Health approach to promote best practices to avoid the emergence and spread of AMR. Thus, “The Philippine National Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance: One Health Approach” (PNAP) has evolved and continuously being improved. At present, studies on AMR and antimicrobial use in the Philippine aquatic sector are very limited. The BFAR participated in the FAO project FMM/RAS/298 Strengthening Capacities, Policies and National Action Plans on Prudent and Responsible Use of Antimicrobials in Fisheries which enhanced the understanding of AMR in aquaculture and laboratory capacity. As part of the project, a survey on the use of antimicrobials in Philippine aquaculture was conducted. Eighty four respondents from the shrimp and tilapia farming sectors and two aquaculture product suppliers participated. Results showed that antibiotics are no longer applied in participating grow-out farms monitored for residues and there has been no detection of antibiotics in shrimp or fish meat from registered farms. About 77 % of the respondents know the regulations on the use of antimicrobials and the majority of them are aware of banned and regulated antibiotics in food animals.