INDEMNIFICATION. Agriculture spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes (left) gives updates on the bird flu with Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Reildrin Morales on Thursday (April 7, 2022). They said 67 out of 70 reported cases in the country have been resolved. (Screengrab)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed a total of PHP3.6 million to indemnify poultry farms affected by the avian influenza virus or bird flu in the country, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said Thursday.
In a virtual briefing, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes said the PHP3,608,630 indemnification serves as compensation in exchange for culled animals, particularly ducks, quails, and native chickens in 49 barangays in five regions in the country.
The indemnification particularly corresponds to PHP100 per duck or native chicken, and PHP15 per quail culled.
BAI Director Reildrin Morales said the DA has allotted an initial amount of PHP25 million from their quick response fund for the indemnification program.
To date, 70 cases of bird flu have been reported in 10 regions in the country, yet 67 of these have already been resolved.
Morales reminded backyard farmers to maintain biosafety measures since the virus is suspected to have been spread by migratory birds.
“Panatilihing malinis ‘yung loob ng kanilang mga farms para nang sa ganun hindi ‘yan makapag-attract ng mga wild birds, migratory birds, kasi po usually ‘yung mga nakatapon na feeds, ‘yung mga ipot, ‘yung mga buo-buong mais, ‘yan po ‘yung dinadayo ng mga ibon doon sa loob ng mga farms at dun po nagkakaroon ng contact ‘yung wild at saka ‘yung domestic (Maintain your farms clean so it would not attract wild birds, migratory birds, because usually the discarded seeds, manure, or corns, these attract [migratory] birds inside the farm, wherein the contact of wild and domestic takes place),” he said.
Amid the bird flu threat, Morales reiterated the public has nothing to worry about the supply of chicken meat and eggs since no infection in 43-day old broiler chickens has been detected yet. (PNA)
