By Rene V. Carbayas

Isabela City de Basilan (1 August) -- The Basilan Avian Influenza Task Force (BAITF), during a recent workshop feels that local government units (LGUs) must play an important role in combating avian influenza (AI) also known as bird flu in Basilan.

Some thirty individuals representing various government agencies in Basilan gathered at Jardin de la Vina in Zamboanga City from July 28-29, 2008 to formulate the provincial AI preparedness plan and devise an early warning system (EWS) in most high risk areas/barangays in case bird flu symptoms are detected and or reported.

The workshop was initiated and supported by the Provincial Health Office of Basilan under DOH-ARMM in partnership with the USAID-Sustainable Health Improvements through Empowerment and Local Development (SHIELD) Project.

Although some of the key stakeholders, particularly Dr. Norodin A. Kuit, the Regional AI Coordinator-DA-ARMM, representatives from the Provincial Governor's office, the Provincial Police, among others were not around, the workshop pushed through.

Since a number of the participants are somehow not familiar with AI, the DA and PHO prior to the workshop gave an orientation and briefing about Avian Influenza.

The participants reviewed the Basilan AI Preparedness Plan drafted in Davao, which was also presented to the Provincial AI Task Force last July 3 in Isabela City.

Heated discussions as to what strategy is effective, how these could be carried out and fully implemented, including financial support from mandated agencies and local government units were among those that raised the adrenalin that unexpectedly hurt some individuals. Still, everyone ended as friends.

To prepare the people of Basilan against the threat of Avian Influenza, the participants agreed on the following specific objectives and strategies: (a) to establish an inter-agency management structure that will coordinate all AI-related activities from the province down to the barangay level by 2008; (b) to capacitate and or train all personnel directly involve in the implementation of AI-related activities by 2008; (c) to conduct series of information education campaign on Avian Influenza at the community level by 2009; (d) to enhance the AI monitoring and surveillance system in the province by 2008, which include the creation, adoption, and implementation of ordinances to strengthen the AI monitoring and surveillance system by 2009.

Dr. Manuel E. Dulay Jr., of the DOH-ARMM Regional Office who is also main facilitator of the workshop and Mr. Ray Gonzaga, Deputy Chief of Party, SHIELD underscored the importance of the early warning system that must be established in at least every municipality or in every area identified as high risk for AI entry.

With the lack of available data at hand the municipalities/city tried to identify barangays in their area that is at risk for AI entry and discussed some possible early warning system that could be established.

Basilan is still bird flu-free and the participants are enthusiastic to maintain that status, however limited, since the role of local government units particularly the support of the local chief executives are vital to fight the entry of AI in the shores of Basilan.

The Provincial AI Task Force lamented that Governor Jum Akbar seems not very interested in supporting the efforts of the group. Provincial Veterinarian Surhayda T. Aguisanda, DVM is hoping that the governor will be enlightened on the urgency of preventing AI from landing into Basilan shores, and will eventually support and provide funding allocation to prepare the Basileño against bird flu.

Data gathering is one important concern that was raised by the participants. And here, the local government also plays a crucial role.

The participants also challenged the Provincial Department of Environment and Natural Resources to come up with documentation and confirmation of the reported sightings of alleged migratory birds entering the province, especially in the newly created island municipalities of Tabuanlasa and Hji. Mohtamad.

The DA, PHO, and SHIELD reported that a significant number of information and dissemination activities had already been conducted in the past few years, yet recognizes that so much has yet to be done along encouraging and involving local government units in this cause, especially in terms of policy and funding support.

On the outset, many if not all of the activities planned and identified by the municipalities in the workshop depend a lot for financial support from SHIELD. Its project manager Alvin Sapalan MD admitted that the project could only do so much that is why other concerned agencies have to pitch-in.

"That is why we do this workshop", he said stressing on the need for a collaborative effort.

In the case of Basilan, it is lamentable that non-government organizations are spearheading, which should have been the primordial role of the local governments.

Mobilization efforts of the provincial DA and the PHO are dependent on the meager MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) allocated (if any) by the provincial government of Basilan. The Provincial Veterinary office assured that whatever is downloaded (if any) by the ARMM regional office for Basilan, it will be utilized accordingly.

Some of the participants were dismayed by the absence of key people in the workshop. This has wondered participants if the ARMM regional office is serious about this. SHIELD revealed that this workshop was supposed to have been conducted last July 11 and 12, 2008 but was aborted due to the non-availability of the AI point person in DA-ARMM, who also did not make it for this workshop.

The main donor-partner for the efforts of the BAITF is SHIELD. The SHIELD Project is a new five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project in the entire ARMM (6 provinces and 1 city) and it will be implemented within the context of the Philippine Government's Department of Health (DOH) Sector Development Agenda for Health (SDAH) and in partnership with DOH-ARMM.

Working closely with the DOH-ARMM, the SHIELD Project will harmonize and integrate the health and support programs, projects and activities that are existing in ARMM with those that will be made available through various projects and donors.