CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol told Vice Governor Dennis Delta Pineda and other stakeholders that he had asked President Rodrigo Roa Durterte for the provision of a P100 million fund for the Pampanga poultry industry.
According to Secretary Piñol, part of the fund will be utilized for providing loan assistance to poultry farm owners and in helping displaced farm workers who were badly affected by the virus.
The Agricultural secretary expressed optimism they can put an end to the avian influenza outbreak as soon as the culling period of infested chicken and other poultry animals is finished.
He also disclosed that it will not be until 90 days when poultry animal raisers can go back to their production.
“In every crisis there is a window of opportunity,” Piñol said, stressing there are alternative measures on how to provide a living to poultry farmers until they can resume their businesses.
The DA Secretary said he is eyeing to turn poultry farms into fruit and vegetable farmhouses using greenhouse effect technology. He also grasped at the possibility of turning unwanted dung into organic fertilizer.
Piñol immediately issued a directive to create bio-security teams all over the country to inspect poultry and livestock farms. He said this move is to ensure strict compliance and protocols needed in a food production area.
He also stressed the continuous surveillance and monitoring of poultry farms in the province while encouraging the public to help report any cases of avian influenza to the authorities.
Piñol guaranteed to put an end to the crisis and vowed to provide support to help the poultry industry in Pampanga.
“In the meantime, the President assures the people that this administration will go out of its way to extend assistance,” Piñol said.