China gives Pampanga R7.7 M to fight bird flu

An official of People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Tuesday turned over a check amounting to 17.7 million to the Pampanga provincial government to assist the province’s poultry sector that had been badly affected by the bird flu outbreak last August.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, formally handed the check donation to Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and Pampanga Second Representative Gloria MacapagalArroyo during the handover rites at the PRC Embassy in Makati City.

“China suffered many cases of bird flu and natural disasters and we feel the same [losses],” Jianhua said, adding the donation is just “small.”

“Please regard this as a token of friendship that has lasted thousands of years,” he added. “China is not only a friend of the Philippines. China is also a friend of Pampanga.”

The Chinese Ambassador congratulated the provincial government for having managed and controlled the bird flu outbreak in a brief time.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol declared the first bird flu outbreak last August 11 in San Luis town in Pampanga. In barely 17 days or Aug. 28, the problem was pronounced “over’’ by no less than President Duterte, with assurances that poultry products from Pampanga and Luzon, including eggs were safe to eat.

As a result of the outbreak, the poultry sector in province of Pampanga lost 1192 million as more than 420,000 chicken, ducks and quails were culled.

In her acceptance remarks, Pineda thanked Arroyo for helping facilitate the donation.