by Rizalie A. Calibo

Province of Siquijor (21 July) -- Siquijodnons are known to be poultry and game cocks raisers/growers thus, there is a need to undertake contingency measures, and relevant information on Avian Influenza (AI), also known as bird flu.

This came out during the recent AI Contingency Planning Formulation Workshops at the Salagdoong Beach Resort in Maria, Siquijor.

The draft provincial AI plan also noted that the province, although bird flu-free can be a risk area taking into consideration the presence of forests, coastal and mangrove areas where migratory birds are likely to dwell plus the wharves and its proximity to Mindanao and other neighboring provinces known to be possible smuggling routes of poultry products and undocumented individuals.

The draft plan also revealed that the province does not have facilities that are equipped to address AI-related cases that include quarantine checkpoints and quarantine personnel and protective equipment for personnel are limited. Not even the presence of an ordinance in any municipality that would support it exists.

The government has been intensifying efforts to prevent the spread of avian influenza since the virus has continuously existed in the neighboring countries. At present, the Philippines, Brineu and Singapore are the only Asian countries that have not been infected with pandemic influenza.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her government spends a lot of time and resources to train and retrain a growing work force for "specific task and for whatever challenges a wayward world economy may throw at us. "And because we have been prepared for it we have been able to shield our nation from the worst effects of food and fuel crisis worldwide," she noted.

"Preparation of a contingency plan is a critical factor for any possible occurrence of disaster or calamity that would affect an area or a community," stressed assistant Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense during the workshop.

The activity measured the preparedness of the concerned agencies in the province to carry out rapid containment operations with the purpose of stopping or slowing the spread of an emerging possible pandemic influenza.

It also distinguished strengths and opportunities for improvements during further planning activities and gain a better understanding of operational capacity for each member agency of the task force.

AI Risk Area Identification, Risk Assessment, Analysis of Event, Scenario Building, General Policy and objectives setting, task identification, identifying needs and activities, resource inventory, needs projections and resource gag idientification are among exercises undertaken. Provision of basic food commodities needed, risk communication strategy which is one of the primary concern of the exercise in order to avoid panic to the public are also given attention.

The contingency planning was initiated by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture (DA-BAI) through the Provincial Veterinary's Office (PVO) and the Office of Civil Defense. The workshop was also facilitated by the regional coordinators from the Department of Health, Region 7.

The workshop aimed to formulate a responsive and coordinated contingency plan for the government to address the problem on avian influenza. It will serve as the blue print to mitigate the spread of AI and to protect the poultry population as well as the human population.