The Department of Agriculture (DA-6) has urged local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas to strengthen their surveillance against avian influenza or bird flu.
DA-6 regional director Remelyn Recoter said precautionary measures are needed to protect the region’s more than P30-billion poultry industry.
Among these measures is the issuance of executive orders (EO) prohibiting the entry of poultry products in their respective localities.
Negros Occidental was the first and so far the only province in the region to issue an EO banning all poultry products on the island from March 1 to 15.
According to Recoter, Western Visayas is the number one producer of native chickens in the country. Forty percent of the region’s production comes from Negros Occidental.
The regional director also appealed to all farmers organizations to help the LGUs in the monitoring of marsh or wetlands areas in the region.
Recoter noted that Avain flu in Luzon, particularly in Bulacan and Pampanga, was detected in migratory birds.
In the region, the Regional Animal Diagnostic Laboratory and Regulatory Division has been collecting samples for laboratory test.
Like the African swine fever (ASF), Recoter is hopeful that they will be able to prevent the entry prevent the entry and spread of bird flu in the region.IMT
