THE Misamis Oriental Provincial Board is set to take up and discuss measures together with poultry growers and the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Northern Mindanao to prevent the entry of the bird flu virus in the province.
Board Member Gerardo Sabal III, health committee vice chairperson, said he would make a privilege speech on Tuesday, August 22, urging the health committee to convene so they can help in protecting the province from the avian flu outbreak in Pampanga province.
Sabal also said he would recommend for the conduct of a committee hearing where poultry growers will be invited so they would hear the concerns of poultry producers in the province.
"Dad-on nako sa session karong Martes aron matuki kung unsay buhaton nato para dili moabot sa ato ang bird flu virus," Sabal said.
Sabal said the committee hearing would also help and assist all affected poultry related businesses should the avian virus gain a foothold in the province.
He said DA-Northern Mindanao officials will also be called to enlighten poultry growers and dressing plant companies in the province on the guidelines and memoranda issued by the agency pertaining to the bird flu virus.
"Magpatawag ta og hearing para ma-inform ang mga poultry growers regarding sa mga regulations implemented by the DA pero nakasiguro ko nga nag-coordinate na pud ang DA directly sa tanang affected," Sabal said.
"Ang hearing nagtumong nga matabangan nato ang mga poultry growers kung unsay angay ug matarong nga buhaton para dili makaabot ang bird flu virus ug kung makaabot unsay angay buhaton pud," Sabal added.
Sabal said the province has several dressing plants and poultry growers that supply poultry products not only in Mindanao.
Sabal also worries the tendencies and adverse effects of the issue in the local market and poultry business as a whole.
"Mangandam kita nga dili makasulod kini sa ato kay ang normal tendency ani moubos ang presyo sa manok kay wala nay mangaon ug kung wala nay manok unya ang demand taas ang problema aha kita manguha sa supply," Sabal said.
But Sabal has assured that personnel at the quarantine stations in Lugait and Magsaysay towns including the ports have been strictly monitoring the province's boundaries.
Early this week, Governor Yevgeny Emano ordered the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) and the Veterinary Office to check the situation in the province.
"Sa karon duna nay direct nga mando si gov(ernor) sa PAO ug sa veterinary office to strictly monitor diha sa quarantine stations nato sa Lugait ug Magsaysay," Sabal said.