Lessons From Arakan “Itik Massacre”: Quarantine Protocols In Contiguous Areas Like Mindanao Must Be Reviewed!

Early today, the owners of the over 4,000 heads of laying ducks which were seized April 13 and buried alive April 15 by Quarantine Personnel in Arakan, North Cotabato came to me seeking help.
They are asking government through Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. for help so they could start their laying ducks livelihood again which is the source of their income..
After listening to their stories, it became clear to me that the tragic fate of the thousands of ducks which were starved for two days before these were buried in a pit was the result of an unrealistic Quarantine Protocols enforced by “experts” in air-conditioned offices.
The “No Movement” Policy enforced in 2022 was mainly because of an outbreak of Bird Flu somewhere in Luzon and the perfunctory reaction was to ban the movement of fowls nationwide.
In case of movements, the fowls, chicken and ducks, needed to undergo blood testing before a travel permit is issued.
This is pure and simple example of Mindless Bureaucracy because in the case of Mindanao, there is no reported Bird Flu Outbreak.
Even if there is a Bird Flu Outbreak in one area in Mindanao that does not warrant a ban on the movement of the fowls in other parts of the island.
This was the lesson that we learned from the Pampanga Bird Flu Outbreak in 2018 which the Dept. of Agriculture successfully contained in just 45 days.
Culling should be farm specific and there is no need to over react because any restriction on the movement of fowls will affect the poultry industry.
I call on Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., Undersecretary Dante Palabrica and the Bureau of Animal Industry to review the existing Quarantine Protocols and make it realistic and practical.
Lastly, I hope that in the kind heart of Sec. Laurel, he would pity these poor farmers and assist them in starting their laying duck livelihood project again.
Thank you.

#governanceiscommomsense!