The Philippines’s fight against tuberculosis should not stop with humans, a veterinarian said, urging the government to establish the country’s first national bovine tuberculosis eradication program to prevent the disease from spreading between cattle and people.
‘Cattle TB is not just an animal disease. It is a One Health issue affecting food safety, livestock productivity, and public health,’ Dr. Philip John S. Sajol, a veterinarian and researcher at Central Mindanao University said.
According to Sajol, existing policies and regulations, primarily implemented by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) in coordination with the Department of Health, classify bovine TB as a locally important animal disease but do not provide clear measures for controlling it, particularly at the local-government level. During the 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers competition at the 19th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week on Wednesday, Sajol proposed a national bovine or cattle tuberculosis eradication program to be led by the DA-BAI in coordination with the DOH, DOST and other research agencies. The program would align with the DOST’s Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) and the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA).
He also called for stronger surveillance in slaughterhouses through rapid and reliable diagnostic tools, standardized post-mortem examinations and mandatory disease reporting.
Sajol further recommended stronger occupational health measures and proper personal protective equipment for slaughterhouse workers and other high-risk groups, as well as closer coordination among veterinarians, physicians, researchers, local governments and farming communities to improve disease monitoring, reporting and public awareness.
The proposed measures are based partly on Sajol’s study of 275 slaughtered cattle in Bukidnon, one of the country’s major cattle-producing provinces. Of the animals examined, 126, or nearly half, tested positive for bovine TB.
The study also found abnormal lesions or damaged areas in the lungs and other tissues that were consistent with TB during the post-mortem examinations. These were found in cattle of different ages, sexes and physical conditions, suggesting that some cases may be going unnoticed.
‘While these findings come from only one province, they actually signify a pressing concern. If we are not actively detecting bovine TB, we may be underestimating its impact both on animal and human health,’ he emphasized.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country had 2.52 million cattle as of March 31, 2026, down 1.5 percent from the 2.56 million recorded during the same period in 2025.
Smallholder farms accounted for 86.4 percent of the country’s cattle inventory, while semi-commercial and commercial farms accounted for 10.9 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, with Northern Mindanao and Calabarzon among the leading cattle-producing regions.
‘If, for example, we are not testing for this disease, imagine in these high cattle-producing provinces, the disease may spread. And then again, this is zoonotic. It may transmit to humans, which then will lead to human TB cases,’ he said.
‘So in the national context, this may actually help us bridge the gap and to hopefully eradicate also even human tuberculosis nationwide,’ he added.
According to Sajol, human TB is commonly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spreads through the air, while bovine TB is caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The latter can spread among cattle through close contact with infected animals or exposure to contaminated feed and water.
Humans can also contract M. bovis by inhaling the bacteria or consuming contaminated animal products, especially raw or undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk. Proper cooking and pasteurization, however, can kill the bacteria.
Although the two kinds of bacteria belong to the same complex and can cause similar disease and tissue damage, cattle may not show obvious symptoms of bovine TB.
Sajol explained that cattle typically have a lifespan of only two to three years before slaughter, so the disease may not have enough time to progress to its clinical stage. This differs from humans, who generally live much longer, giving TB more time to develop and show symptoms.
‘Typically, medications for human tuberculosis are also applied to cattle tuberculosis. However, from an economic standpoint, what I’m saying is it’s actually better to cull the cattle than to treat because, again, it’s costly,’ he said.
Studies have estimated that bovine TB accounted for about 30 percent of human TB cases in some settings, with the burden concentrated in developing countries where cattle disease is more common and access to pasteurized milk is limited.
In the United States, however, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Mycobacterium bovis, the bacterium that causes bovine TB, accounts for less than 2 percent of human TB cases. The lower incidence has been associated with long-standing cattle disease-control programs and widespread milk pasteurization.
‘The purpose of the research is not to extend fear among farmers, consumers and slaughterhouse workers. It’s actually to keep them well informed of the status of bovine tuberculosis,’ he told BusinessMirror during a press conference.
He noted that the country currently lacks a comprehensive database on bovine TB, making it difficult to determine the extent of the disease.
At the community level, he said greater awareness could help farmers manage their cattle more effectively while protecting their livelihoods.
‘Having your cattle killed because of this disease would create devastating economic losses to their families,’ Sajol said.
Sajol’s proposed bovine TB policy won first place in the PNHRS 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers competition, which featured nine finalists.
Dr. Angelica Faye O. Reguindin of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in Central Luzon placed second for her proposal, ‘A Small Dose Today Can Prevent Days in the Hospital Tomorrow: Making Rotavirus Vaccine Accessible for Every Filipino Child.’
Zwiesel Gaile L. Cantuba of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in the Cordillera Administrative Region placed third for ‘Project IYAMAN: Institutionalizing an Evidence-Informed, Multitiered Suicide Prevention System in Baguio City.’