The province of Bohol has prohibited the entry of chicken meat and products from Luzon as precautionary measure amid the first ever avian flu outbreak within the country.

According to Gov. Edgar Chatto, he has directed the formation of a task force which will monitor all poultry products entering the province after the outbreak struck a town in Pampanga last week.

Pampanga has been placed under a state of calamity since Friday.

“Sa unangang panahon, walay bird flu na nakasod sa Pilipinas. Karon, nakasod ang bird flu sa Pampanga, and the DA has issued the ban on exporting of chicken out of Luzon,” said Chatto.

To boost the agriculture department’s ban on fowl shipment from Luzon, the provincial veterinarian and the Provincial Agriculture’s Office have been tasked to lead the drive against keeping Luzon poultry products from entering Bohol.

“We are the first province to do this, dili ta gustong ma-contaminated ang atong mga manok sa Bohol,” said Chatto.

The governor noted that the precautionary measure is meant to protect Bohol’s poultry industry including small farmers and exporters of chicken meat which, if affected, would hit the province’s economy.

Chatto, for instance, cited that a large chunk of chicken supply of a popular restaurant chain in Manila is being sourced from Bohol.

“Mao ng atong panalipdan g’yod ang atong stock of fowl and poultry dinhi sa Bohol aron dili ma-questionable ang atong klase sa produkto,” added Chatto.  “This will affect our economy and farmers.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) allayed fears on the consumption of poultry products.

Consumption of chickens and eggs is safe as long as these are properly cooked, said Dr. Enrique Tayag of the DOH on Monday. (Allen Doydora)