The biggest crisis thus far to hit the agriculture sector under the administration of President Rody Duterte, the Avian Influenza outbreak in three towns in Central Luzon, is now officially over.
On Thursday, August 31, following the recommendations of biosecurity experts, I signed a Memorandum Circular lifting the quarantine restrictions in the 7-kilometer Controlled Area Radius around the town of San Luis, Pampanga and in Jaen and San Isidro towns in Nueva Ecija.
This means that poultry and poultry products from these areas could now be transported to other destinations or markets.
However, Quarantine Restrictions and Surveillance are still in place in the 1-km. radius of the three towns.
Farmers will only be allowed to raise chicken, ducks and quails again after 90 days from the day the disinfection of the areas ended.
On Monday, I will make a formal report to President Duterte during the monthly Cabinet Meeting on the Bird Flu Crisis.
My report will include recommendations on how government could help the poultry industry recover.
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.
If it is any consolation, our losses in the first case of Bird Flu in the country is nowhere near the devastation of the Thai poultry industry when they were hit by Bird Flu four times.
In the first Thai Bird Flu outbreak, 60-million fowls were killed but Thailand was able to recover.
We will certainly recover.
As we move forward from this crisis, I would like to thank all those who worked hard and sacrificed to ensure the success of our efforts to contsin the Bird Flu.
Of course, credit goes to President Duterte whose moral support and example of decisiveness helped us overcome.
Most of all, I thank God for protecting the Filipino farmers.
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