DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) will be closed temporarily on Monday for a simulation activity to prepare its personnel for a possible lockdown in case an Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 or bird flu is detected in Davao City.

Andi Baldonado, development project manager of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), said that the one-day drill is intended to test the protocols of the center in the event of an outbreak that could make the temporary closure necessary.

She said the drill will be participated by the bird keepers, food stock technicians, and maintenance personnel to effectively handle a situation during a lockdown “for the safety of our national bird, endemic raptors, and other animals housed at the PEC.”

“The keepers will be assigned to specific areas within the facility. They will attend to the eagles and animals only in those areas. The movement of the staff is restricted within the PEC,” she said.

The PEF announced, in its social media account on Saturday, that a lockdown will severely affect the operation of the center but added it cannot risk the safety of the endemic wildlife, many of them rescued, that are either taking shelter or being rehabilitated at the center.

It said the drill will allow them to respond “at a moment’s notice as soon as there is a detected case of Avian flu in Davao City.”

“In the event that the Avian Flu is detected in Davao City, the Philippine Eagle Center will again have to close its gates and resort to lockdown and quarantine,” the foundation said.

It added that a lockdown is a necessary biosecurity measure to protect all Philippine eagles and other raptors in the facility from being wiped out by the disease.

The center will reopen on April 12.

“The PEC is home to 5% of the global population of this already critically endangered bird,” it said.

Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, head of the City Veterinary Office, said during an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) Friday that the local government is doing all it can to protect the city and keep its bird-flu free status after the recent detection of Avian Influenza in neighboring Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.

She said the local government has set up 13 veterinary checkpoints, assisted by Task Force Davao and Davao City Police Office to enhance its border control and monitor entry of live poultry and poultry products.

“They are 24/7 to check the entry of live poultry or poultry products if they have the documents,” she said.

She said the city is classified under “stage 1,” which means it remains free from Avian Flu.

Under this stage, she said the local government undertakes preventive measures, including a consistent surveillance of the commercial and backyard poultry farms.