By Rose Palacio
Philippine Information Agency
DAVAO CITY — Dr. Rafael Mercado, chief of the livestock division of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Mindanao-wide coordinator for bird-flu prevention, said last week that the city is still free from the Avian Influenza Virus (bird-flu).
Mercado made the statement during a press conference Friday at the PIA audio visual room. Together with Dr. Mercado was Ms. Cora Baylon, consultant of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry who presented the Chambers 7th Recyclable collection event held Saturday (June 30) at carpark of SM city mall.
DA is now undertaking various preventive measures, which are done in stages, to keep the Philippines bird-flu free.
Stage 1 is to prevent the entry of the virus in the country. DA banned poultry products coming from the bird-flu positive places.
Under stage 2, DA assigned task forces to man the main ports and port of entries of the poultry products. Roger Chiu, DA Regional Director, is the chairman of the said task forces.
Members of these task forces are: the Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Customs, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National police (PNP), National Defense, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and others.
Local government units were also tapped to disseminate information on bird-flu.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the agriculture department and other concerned government agencies to keep the Philippines protected from avian flu and keep our country out of harm from the said diseases. Mercado said. (PIA XI Dispatch/rbpalacio) (davaotoday.com)
