AS HIS way of assuring Masantoleños that Pampanga is bird flu-free, Masantol Mayor Danilo Guintu on Thursday gave away live chickens to town residents.

A total of 1,000 chickens were distributed to the residents as part of the campaign to promote the safety of poultry meat in Pampanga following the bird flu outbreak that struck the province.

Guintu said that he personally shelled out funds for the purchase of the chickens just to wipe out the scare and trauma of Masantoleños on eating chicken and other poultry products.

He disclosed that even if they are kilometers away from the bird flu controlled zone, the effects of the outbreak was still felt here as seen on poultry sales.

“Ito ay para lang ipakita sa ating mga kabalen na safe na safe nang kumain ng manok. Ang Presidente Rodrigo Duterte kumain na, si Governor Lilia Pineda at Cong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo rin, kaya wala na tayong dapat ikatakot,” Guintu said.

He added that the activity is also Masantol’s share in the bid to help the poultry industry in Pampanga and nearby provinces recover.