CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol lashed back and asked former Candaba mayor Jerry Pelayo to “shut up” on the latter’s statement that the government should have consulted a lot of experts and scientists before confirming that there is indeed bird flu in Pampanga.
Earlier, Pelayo refuted one of the theories of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Animal Industry investigators that the flu had been brought in by migratory birds.
“We had no migratory birds in Candaba [town] in the period when many pugo (quails) in San Luis died,” Pelayo was quoted by reports. “It would be a big blow to the Philippines as we export our produce since we have been bird flu-free for a long time, and to our local producers especially in Pampanga. I really hope that we have a cautious approach to this issue.”
But Piñol pointed out that investigators are looking into all angles in determining what brought in the virus and these include migratory birds, smuggled ducks or chicken from China, among others.
“He said that the outbreak in San Luis could not be avian flu, as if he (Pelayo) is more authoritative than the four laboratories which confirmed that the death of 37,000 fowls in San Luis was caused by Avian Influenza Type A Sub-type H5,” Piñol said.
“With God's grace, things will be back to normal in three months and the Agriculture department will help affected farmers get back on their feet again with calamity assistance and low interest loans,” Piñol added.
“In the meantime, I'm asking Mayor Pelayo to shut up because he is not an expert or authority on animal diseases, much more avian influenza,” Piñol said.