October 28, 2004

Bird Flu Free Status Boosts Philippines Poultry Exports

The Philippine poultry industry has benefited considerably from the country's bird flu status, with the opening of new export markets among its Asian neighbors, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

The BAI reported that a total of 534,286.35 kilograms of chicken have been exported to Japan as of the middle of last month.

A total of 111,692 day-old chicks have also been exported to Brunei, Bangladesh and Malaysia as of September 20.

The BAI added that the temporary bans on chicken imports from Taiwan, Japan and the United States have been lifted.

Brisk exports were made possible through the National Bird Flu Preparedness Program, which includes an awareness and health promotion campaign, mobilization of trained personnel and the establishment of a surveillance system and regional bird flu task forces.

Disease surveillance is ongoing in the priority regions and provinces of Pampanga, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, the Agusan provinces, the Zamboanga peninsula, Cebu and Palawan, stated the BAI.

Meanwhile, disease surveillance is also scheduled in Negros Occidental, Roxas and Capiz in Panay Island, Sorsogon, Brooke's Point, General Santos City, Nauhan Lake in Oriental Mindoro, Kabacan and Liguasan Marsh in Cotabato, Surigao del Norte and Victoria in Laguna.