Poultry industry losses now at P2.7 B — Sinag

MANILA, Philippines -  The local poultry industry may not recover anytime soon as the confirmation of the  H5N6 bird flu strain will likely exacerbate fears among the consuming public, an agricultural group said.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) decision to lift the ban on the transport and shipment of poultry and poultry products nationwide may not be enough to lift the industry.

“We wanted to regain consumer confidence. But with the (bird flu) announcement, consumers will all the more hesitate to buy,” Sinag chairman Rosendo So said in a phone interview.

Since the outbreak in Pampanga, the industry has been  losing P179 million daily or about P2.7 billion so far.

“And it’s still counting until now. The fear factor is causing the lower chance of immediate recovery,” So said.

Four days after the lifting of the ban, farmgate prices have not increased significantly and have remained in their lowest levels.

Farmgate prices have dropped to P20 per kilogram, way below the cost of production of P60 to P70 per kg two weeks ago.

“Generally, it is still very low. It did not go down in wet markets and most especially not in supermarkets,” So said.

Sinag is urging the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry to reduce retail prices.

“(Agriculture Secretary) Pinol should have talked with the DTI. It seems like he did not take it seriously and that it is not within his radar and his priority. Until now, no move has been made,” he said.

Furthermore, the industry continues to assure the public that there is no impending public health crisis in the country despite the confirmatory test from Australia.

According to Sinag, the confirmation has not changed current government protocols and industry responses with the avian flu and that human infection is still next to nil.

Citing the assessment of the World Health Organization, the group said human infections with the H5N6 virus seem to be sporadic with no ongoing human-to-human transmission and the risk of international disease spread is considered low.

“Public health experts and animal health specialists have recommended the downgrading of avian influenza as animal disease, with low probability of transmission to people working in poultry farms or individuals dealing with live birds,” So said.

“Avian influenza is not something new, what is important is that both the industry and government are prepared with the proper quarantine guidelines and bio-security protocols,” he added.