TACLOBAN CITY – To protect the local poultry and game fowl industry, four municipalities in Leyte have created task forces to regulate the entry of live domestic and wild birds in their jurisdiction.
This developed after the Department of Agriculture (DA)-8 confirmed the first case of avian influenza or bird flu at Leyte Poultry Development Corp. (LPDC) chicken breeder farm in Kananga, Leyte.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/26/eastern-visayas-logs-fist-case-of-avian-influenza
At least 60,000 chickens were culled following the abnormal daily mortality rate in the farm earlier this month.
Despite not having communication or coordination on the issue from the DA, Palompon, Leyte Mayor Ramon Oñate said he issued an executive order totally banning the entry of domestic and wild birds into their municipality.
"Live birds entering Palompon are barred, especially those coming from Kananga. However, dressed chickens are allowed because they have certificates from the National Meat Inspection Service," he said.
They also advised cockfighting afficionados not to visit other cockpits outside Palompon.
"We are not only protecting large-scale farms but also our backyard raisers," he added, citing DA Memorandum Circular No. 43, Series of 2022.
The ban takes effect until May 9 or until no more avian flu cases will be reported in the area.
Matag-ob Mayor Bernandino Tacoy, who also confirmed an incident of abnormal mortality in a poultry farm in the municipality, on Wednesday, March 27, said they have requested the Provincial Veterinary Office to verify and test the farm for possible contamination.
Tacoy issued an executive order creating Task Force LIPAD (Livestock, Immunization, Public Awareness, Avian Surveillance, and Disease Control Measures) that will serve as the primary operational unit for addressing bird flu-related concerns within the municipality.
"Being a game fowl raiser, it pains me to see the industry being affected because this is my passion and I am not here (in this industry) only for money," he lamented.
Isabel Leyte Mayor Edgardo Cordeño and Merida Mayor Rolando Villasencio also issued similar executive orders, citing the need to protect the livelihood, health, and economy.
"Considering the proximity in distance of Kananga from our municipality and we have two poultry farms with the same owner from the one with bird flu in Kananga, I felt the need for the EO as a precaution," Villasencio said.
The mayors asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DA, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Bureau of Animal Industry to check on the documentary requirements and facilities for the agro-commercial poultry category of LPDC, as well as the disposal of the carcasses if they are in accordance with environmental laws.
They also appealed to the Department of Health to educate the local government units on the protocol in managing H5N1 and other mitigating measures.
"We hope that the concerned government officials and agencies will issue advisories or help us on how we can prevent this virus from spreading. Please do not say that the virus has already been contained because if that's the case, why did the Cebu provincial government put a temporary ban on the entry of live birds from Leyte," the mayors said in a statement.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued on Monday, March 25 an executive order “regulating the entry of live poultry, game fowl, wild birds, pigeon, and pet birds from the province of Leyte.”
"Can the DA or BAI declare that LPDC is bird-flu free, then why can't they enter the farm because the farm workers are still in quarantine?" the mayors said.
They also called for transparency to prevent fear and disinformation. "Let this bird flu incident open their minds to help one another."