Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has directed the mayors of Negros Occidental to strengthen the biosecurity measures in poultry and gamefowl farms in their towns and cities to protect the province’s P8 billion industry, Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said Monday, June 13.
Lacson, in a memorandum to the mayors on Monday, said in view of the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Avian influenza in different parts to country, particularly in Luzon and Mindanao, it is necessary to continuously strengthen the province’s animal biosecurity program in order to protect the multibillion-peso poultry and gamefowl industry of Negros Occidental.
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991, Lacson ordered the following:
- Registration of all poultry and gamefowl farms in Negros Occidental with the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO);
- Conduct of regular inspection and monitoring by PVO personnel of all poultry and gamefowl farms;
- Implementation of strict veterinary quarantine procedures in farms whenever necessary;
- Immediate reporting by farm owners of any unusual cases of poultry diseases with high mortality rate occurring within their farms; and
- Submission of laboratory samples for Avian Influenza testing as part of regular disease surveillance activity.
Lacson directed the mayors to ensure the implementation of preventive and safeguard measures against avian influence in coordination with the PVO.*