AGRICULTURE CHIEF: BIRD FLU CRISIS OVER

But quarantine restrictions and surveillance are still in place within the one-kilometer radius of the affected farms in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the bird flu or avian influenza outbreak in three towns in Central Luzon is officially over and that recovery work will already start.

Piñol, in his Facebook post over the weekend, said he signed a memorandum circular lifting the quarantine restrictions within the seven-kilometer radius designated as control area in the town of San Luis in Pampanga, and in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija.

This is upon the recommendations made by the biosecurity experts on August 31, he said.

“The biggest crisis, so far, that hit the agriculture sector under President Rodrigo Duterte is now over,” Piñol said, adding that this means that poultry and poultry products from these areas could now be transported to other destinations or markets.

The agriculture chief, however, said quarantine restrictions and surveillance are still in place within the one-kilometer radius of the three towns.

Farmers will be allowed to raise only chicken, ducks, and quails again after 90 days from the day the disinfection of the areas ended.

Piñol said he will make a formal report on the bird flu crisis to the President during the monthly Cabinet meeting today.

“My report will include recommendations on how government could help the poultry industry recover,” he said.

Piñol’s post stated that the damage to the industry could not still be quantified beyond the value of over 600,000 fowls which biosecurity teams, including Army soldiers, culled to contain the spread of the virus.

“We will certainly recover,” Piñol said, adding that “as we move forward from this crisis, I would like to thank all those who worked hard and sacrificed to en- The biggest crisis, so far, that hit the agriculture sector under President Rodrigo Duterte is now over. sure the success of our efforts to contain the virus.”

In Negros Occidental, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has expressed optimism that the demand for poultry products will eventually increase as the bird flu scare dies down.

However, as the demand increases, the prices of chicken are also seen to continue to increase after the slight pick up last week.

The PVO earlier reported that the prevailing average cost of dressed chicken among public markets in the province has slightly increased by P0.47 per kilogram.