Candaba's duck raisers declare P3-M in daily loses due to bird flu

The avian flu outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga was also costing duck raisers in the next town of Candaba P3 million in loses each day, a cooperative manager told GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" on Monday.

Candaba was within the the seven kilometer controlled zone, from which live poultry and eggs are prevented from leaving to keep the bird flu from spreading.

"Nang ideklara ang state of calamity sa buong Pampanga, ayan na 'yang itlog namin. Sala namang kumukuha, kasi wala namang dadalhan. Naka-hold na ang Visayas, Minadanao, Luzon," said Candaba Duck Raisers and Farmers Multi-purpose Co-op manager Bonifacio Gonzales.

"Last week lang, kumuha ng sample sa amin 'yung BAI Manila (Bureau of Animal Industry), negative ang itik,"  Gonzales added

To prevent the duck eggs to going to waste, farmers had started turning them into salted eggs.

Meanwhile, no poultry products were sold at San Luis public market on Sunday due to the bird flu outbreak.

Also, more than 18,000 chickens had also been destroyed, and the local police force had set up checkpoints to prevent any poultry products from leaving the affected town.

Though the BAI had yet to find the San Luis farm form outbreak started, they did find their first first case last April.

"Matagal na po naming problema 'yan, 'yung underreporting o tinatago ang sakit, kalat na bago namin malaman,'yan ang problema, kami ang trouble shooter pero minsan, it's too late," BAI Animal Facilities Regulations Section Chief Dra. Arlene Vitiangco told GMA News.

Outside the ‘controlled zone’

Residents from towns identified as "avian-free" are making it clear that their poultry products were safe to consume.

"Ang aming bayan pong Santo Tomas ay avian-free, na flue free... gawa po ng kami po ay nasa labas po ng 7-kilometer radius na affected areas ay ang bayan po ng San Luis," emphasized Sto. Tomas Mayor Johnny Sambo. "Kami po sa Santo Tomas, we are more than 10 kilometers from San Luis."

Despite this and despite the Pampanga controlled zone being limited to a seven kilometer radius, Abra province in the Cordillera Administrative Region tightened its chicken products trade with Pampanga.

"Kung supplier ka, we require them to submit a health certificate na cleared 'yung farm nila for the AI virus," Abra Governor Maria Jocelyn Bernos told GMA News.

In Ilocos Norte, roast chicken businesses in Laoag City were reporting weaker sales, despite their chickens being sourced from Isabela.

Poultry sales in Balanga City in Bataan also registered a downturn, despite chicken being sold P30 a kilo cheaper.

Meanwhile, chicken coops in Dagupan City, Pangasinan reportedly lost at least 10 percent of their revenue.

While poultry inspections in Cebu had become stricter, the Agriculture Department was closely monitoring poultry situation in Davao - with officials were coordinating closely with the local ports.

The Department of Trade and Industry echoed Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial's declaration on Monday that there was no reason to shun poultry products, which are safe to eat as long as they are cooked and prepared properly.

"I assure you po na kung anu man ang nasa market, or sa grocery... safe to eat po yan, bakit po? Kasi hindi naman po 'yan makakarating diyan without the necessary permit," the BAI's Vitiangco reiterated. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News