KORONADAL CITY. The
Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) temporarily bans
the movement of live domestic and wild birds from Luzon to Visayas and
Mindanao.
In a Memorandum Circular
signed by Officer-in-Charge Director Enrico Garzon, which was sent out on
August 11, 2017, the ban also covers products from domestic and wild birds like
poultry meat, day old chick, and semen.
Manure of these animals,
which is used as organic fertilizer, is also included in the prohibition from
traveling outside Luzon.
This directive was in line
with the Avian Influenza or Bird Flu outbreak in the province of Pampanga which
started last week.
The document also stated
that within Luzon Island, the movement of fresh, frozen meat, eggs and other
uncooked poultry products may be allowed provided this is outside of the seven
kilometer radius control area of the outbreak site in Pampanga.
A shipping permit and a
health certificate issued by a government veterinarian should also be secured.
DA 12 Regional Executive
Director Milagros Casis said that through this memorandum by DA-BAI, consumers
in Region 12 will be assured of safety poultry meat and other related products
for their consumption.
“Our government can also
rapidly control the outbreak through this directive,” she added.
The temporary ban will take
effect until such time that no new cases are reported 21 days after the depopulation
of the affected areas.
Meanwhile, Secretary Emmanuel
Piñol said that the DA and BAI already culled out almost 200,000 of chickens in
San Luis, Pampanga as part of the control measures of the government for the
spread of the virus.
In his official facebook
page, Sec. Piñol also released the hotlines for queries and concerns about
avian influenza. For disease reporting and other concerns: 0920-854-3119 and 0995-132-9339;
while for quarantine concerns clients can ask through this contact number: 0918-917-1407; and for mass media
queries: 0928-736-4454. (Carl Ulysses L. Aguillon/RAFIS-DA RFO 12)
Approved
by:
MILAGROS C. CASIS, CE
Regional
Executive Director