TARLAC: The United States Disease Threat Reduction Agency (USDTRA) turned over to the Department of Agriculture (DA) the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory 3 (RADDL 3) on Monday located inside the Central Luzon Integrated Agriculture Research Center in Barangay Paraiso. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said RADDL 3 was timely and relevant, especially in Central Luzon, the most vulnerable to diseases affecting the hog industry, adding that the laboratory’ is vital in ending African swine fever (ASF). “This will be of great help in combatting the spread of the most dreaded animal disease (ASF) that paralyzed the country’s hog industry for more than a year now,” he said. The facility, the first in the region, will help protect the poultry and livestock industry for the benefit of farmers, animal raisers and agripreneurs, and consumers. Major Brian Smith of DTRA said the agency was committed to continue to track the development of the Filipino laboratory networks. Morgan Haas, Agricultural Section representative of the US Agency for International Development, lauded the sustaining partnership of the United States and the Philippines in combating diseases.