STO. TOMAS, Pampanga – Government veterinarians on Monday declared the poultry industry in selected southwestern Pampanga towns as free from the avian influenza (bird flu) virus, allowing raisers to transport their products to different markets outside of the province.
“Sto. Tomas and Minalin towns are bird flu-free areas. Poultry products coming from these places are safe for consumption. In fact, Sto. Tomas and Minalin are outside of the seven-kilometer radius controlled areas,” said Arlene Vytiaco, spokesperson of the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture (BAI-DA).
Vytiaco said poultry raisers must keep their farm open for regular inspection by BAI personnel to ensure their birds are healthy.
Sto. Tomas town mayor John Sambo, who led the dialogue with poultry raisers at the municipal hall, said the poultry industry is heavily losing market revenue due to restrictions impose by DA-BAI.
“Checkpoints are all over major thoroughfares, blocking the movement of poultry products to different markets. Our town is not included in the seven-kilometer radius controlled areas and it’s unfair to our local businessmen here,” Sambo told reporters.
Unlike in other towns, Sambo said poultry raisers in Sto. Tomas focus on layers only. He said other places produce fowl layers, broilers, ducks, and quails.
Noemi Visda, a member of the Minalin Poultry Cooperative (MIPOLCO), said she has incurred an average of P300,000 losses every day since Friday. “Malaki na ang nalulugi namin. Sa akin pa lamang ganito na, eh ang buong poultry sector pa kaya [We’ve been losing big. If I’m losing this much, what more the entire poultry sector]?”
Visda said a truckload delivery of eggs was barred from entering Nueva Vizcaya area at the weekend. The truck driver had no choice but to drove back and they were forced to sell their cargo at a bargain on the way back to Pampanga.
Minalin is considered the “egg basket” of Central Luzon, and supplies eggs to certain northern Luzon provinces as well.
BAI Director Enrico Garzon, who motored here from Manila, issued Memorandum Circular 09 amending the earlier directive banning the movement of all poultry products in Pampanga.
In the Memo, Garzon said movement of poultry products is allowed provided that the sources of eggs and chickens are not included in the seven-kilometer radius of controlled areas of Pampanga.
“Sto. Tomas and Minalin towns are both outside of the areas under BAI and control; all poultry products coming from these places must not be molested and allowed free movement,” Mayor Sambo stressed at the press conference.
Garzon said the transport of “eggs and chicken and other poultry meat but not limited to fresh, frozen and uncooked] shall be accompanied by a shipping permit” and a meat inspection certificate.
