DA to hold 'Chicken Festival' to show WV is bird flu free
ILOILO - Having doubts of eating chicken nowadays because of the bird flu scare?
The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 6 (DA - RFU) with the support of other concerned agencies and sectors will cast consumers' doubts away with a 'Chicken Festival' to be held in the different provinces of the region. This testimonial event will affirm the fact that it is still safe to eat chicken in this part of the country, and that the Philippines still remains bird flu free.
DA RFU 6 Regional Bird Flu Coordinator Dr. Lerisa Balopenos said that first to conduct such event is the province of Iloilo scheduled on November 22 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Conference Hall. This will be followed by an Orientation on Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) on the same date and later during the day, the Provincial AI Task Force is expected to meet.
'There will be chicken eating during the day to prove that it is still safe to eat chicken', Balopenos said.
Aside from promoting to the public that the region is still free from bird flu, Balopenos said this activity aims to erase some fears related to the bird flu scare.
Two weeks ago, baseless text messages went around in Western Visayas claiming that a case of avian or bird flu has been confirmed in Escalante, Negros Occidental which DA 6 RFU Regional Executive Director Jindra Linda Demeterio denied in a press conference held to address the disinformation sowed by some pranksters.
Balopenos said the activity will be supported by the Office of the Governor, DA 6 officials, local government units led by their local chief executives, poultry raisers/integrators, media and other concerned sectors.
The same activity will be conducted in the province of Capiz on November 23 and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental the next day.
Balopenos said basic hygiene measures are still the best defense against bird flu like washing of hands thoroughly with soap and water especially when cooking meat or before and after handling live chicken. Also, to cook chicken thoroughly. Likewise, she encouraged the public not to sell live chickens and other birds in the market while there is a threat of bird flu.
(PIA)