The Local Government Code of 1991, specifically Section 16, mandates local government units to promote the health and safety of the people within their respective territorial jurisdictions.
In Dumaguete, Ordinance No. 26, Series of 2006, entitled “An Ordinance for the Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza”, also known as Bird Flu Ordinance was enacted during my leadership and management of the City Council as City Vice-Mayor.
The law was drafted in the light of the growing concern regarding the Bird Flu outbreak affecting the country’s immediate Asian neighbors like Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, China, Hongkong, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Pakistan. The outbreak led to severe diseases, deaths, and the demolition of chickens and ducks.
The ordinance is aimed to contain, control, prevent, regulate and otherwise restrict the entry, movement, proliferation of poultry, birds, fowl, and other animals, including their products that are infected, or suspected to be potential carriers of the Avian Influenza virus.
Eleven years after the ordinance’ enactment, the deadly, highly pathogenic influenza virus invaded the Philippines on August 11, 2017 wherein the province of Pampanga has declared a state of calamity following an outbreak of bird flu virus in the town of San Luis.
Seven days after the penetration and spread of the deadly virus in Pampanga, the authorities announced on August 18 a similar outbreak in at least two towns in the neighboring town of Nueva Ecija. Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said tests confirmed that the avian flu virus strain found in San Luis, Pampanga, has also been found in the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, about 32 kilometers away.
Despite the confirmation, the Department of Health advised the public to remain calm since there is no threat to public health and the problem remains an animal health concern, at the same time, people are encouraged to stay vigilant.
Currently, the City of Dumaguete is closely monitoring the manifestation of similar cases. Despite a probable threat, we have our ordinance ready for implementation which ensures preparedness for the eventual entry of this contagious virus.
Among others, the ordinance provides for the following:
Control Zone, an area situated within seven-kilometer radius from quarantine zone level 2 after the declaration of the latter.
Quarantine, the limitation of freedom of movement of exposed persons or domestic animals thereby preventing them from spreading the disease.
Quarantine Zone Level 1, an area situated within a three-kilometer radius from the suspected farm.
Quarantine Zone Level 2, an area declared upon confirmation of a bird flu case and control zone of seven kilometers is also concomitantly declared.
Biosecurity measures to be undertaken by commercial poultry owners such as control points, inaccessibility of the holding point to stray animals and free-flying birds, proper disposal of mortalities, no domestic ducks and free-range poultry in migratory bird areas, no mixing of poultry and swine in the same holding facility, and record of movement to and from facility.
Under Section 4 of the Ordinance, the Dumaguete Avian Influenza Task Force is created and is composed of the City Mayor as chairman, City Vice-Mayor as vice-chairman and the following members: City Veterinarian, City Health Officer, City Agriculturist, City PNP Chief, Liga Ng Mga Barangay President, two NGO representatives, City Information Officer, Poultry Raisers Association president, Civil Defense deputized coordinator, and president of the Federation of Homeowners Association.
As a general precaution, people should avoid wild birds and observe them only from a distance; should avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died; and avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
The outbreak in Pampanga may have been caused by migratory birds such as the long-distance flyers from China, Japan and Syberia traveling to the Philippines in search of food and temporary shelter. They migrate for survival. These birds, especially White Herons and Egrets, are also visible during certain months of the year in some barangays of Dumaguete City. I have personally observed them, especially in Bgy. Junob in September to November and February to April.
Migratory Birds Behavior
Studies have shown that they need to move to more temperate habitat because they cannot survive the cold. In like manner, the hottest regions can also be a harsh environment for raising chicks, therefore, these birds decide that t is safer to lay eggs in cooler areas. So they come and go to our country and to our city.
Several scientists theorized that migratory birds may be spreading viruses that cause bird flu around the world. However, a number of scholars say the contrary and further elucidate that there is currently no evidence pointing to the fact that migratory birds are the source of this virus.
Prevention
Though we have not received any report of bird flu cases in the city, as a protective measure, it is imperative that we keep a close watch of the entry points of poultry animals and their products — airport, seaports, and bus terminals. City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo said that authorities are closely monitoring the flow of poultry products in to Dumaguete.
Through this column, we respectfully ask the Philippine Coast Guard to monitor our coasts regarding the smuggling of fowl, and we also ask the Department of Transportation and Communication to monitor trucks passing the nautical highways that might be loading poultry products from Luzon to stop their entry to the Visayas and Mindanao entry points.
Most of all, we need the vigilance of all residents in the community. Please report to the local agriculture office or the local veterinarian office for any unusual death or sickness of chickens and other fowl. Reporting to the nearest health worker for any suspected case of bird flu is a must. Furthermore, please report to the DENR on smuggling, trading or capture of wild birds by individuals.
Latest
At 3pm on Aug. 22, I responded quickly to a call about the death of some native chickens in Bgy. Talay. After conducting initial field investigations, five chickens were found to have died of colds. Chickens are susceptible to getting colds with symptoms including sneezing, nasal discharge difficulty, running or blocked nose.
Nevertheless, we needed to get samples and sent them to the laboratory of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Cebu.
The following day I led the Anti-Bird Flu team composed of representatives from the City Agriculturist’s Office, Office of the City Veterinarian, City Health Office, Provincial Veterinarian’s Office, and the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture in proceeding to the affected site with City Vet Dr. Lourdes Soccoro and Dr. Alfonso Tundag of BAI administering the collection of blood samples from five affected chickens for laboratory analysis.
As of Aug. 23, a total of 15 chickens have died one after the other in few days time from two households.
As of this writing, Dumaguete is still safe and free of the bird flu flu virus. Hopefully, these are isolated case of atay or Newcastle Disease that affects poultry animals.
We have advised the concerned backyard growers to segregate the affected chicken from the unaffected ones as well as maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the surrounding areas.
________________________________
Author’s email: [email protected]