(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
LUCENA CITY, Quezon – The provincial government of Quezon on Thursday established veterinary quarantine checkpoints as preventive measure after the reported bird flu outbreak in two barangays of Pampanga province.
Governor David Suarez has directed the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian to ensure that Veterinary Quarantine Checkpoints restrict the entry of fowl and its byproducts that could enter the province even without the proper documents and permits.
He tasked the veterinary, agriculture and health offices to conduct intensive surveillance and monitoring at entry points including areas frequently visited by migratory birds.
Suarez issued the directive following their attendance at the Special Luzon Regional Development Committee Meeting at the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City recently.
The governor, provincial agriculturist Roberto Gajo and provincial veterinarian Dr. Flomella Caguicla attended the meeting to address concerns of the poultry industry on the effects of the Avian Influenza outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga particularly on local growers and sellers.
Suarez also sought assistance from the DA Region 3 office and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on the avian flu situation and extent of contamination.
He was assured that the agriculture department and concerned local government units (LGUs) in Northern Luzon are still conducting surveillance and monitoring operations.
Suarez also relayed to DA the concerns raised by duck raisers in Quezon province who are now suffering losses due to the ban on the movement of fowl products from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao.
He also asked on government intervention and approaches on reducing the impact of the outbreak in areas free from the avian flu virus. (Gideon Belen/PNA)
