CABANATUAN CITY–Gov. Czarina D. Umali said the Nueva Ecija provincial government is ready to extend financial aid to small poultry owners in areas affected by avian influenza in the municipalities of Jaen and San Isidro.
“The governor made the disclosure during the meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday,” said Abe Pascua, the spokesperson of the Task Force Avian Influenza here.
During the meeting held at the Old Capitol Compound, Umali said she wants to focus help on small chicken and quail raisers. “If they could not avail assistance from the national agencies because they are small players, we in the provincial government will be the one to help,” she said.
“I sympathize with small poultry investors. We all know they are working hard to make both ends meet. We should not forget them,” added Umali.
The governor also directed the PDRRMC and the Provincial Veterinary Office to coordinate with their counterparts in Jaen and San Isidro.
“Those owning poultry farms with not more than 700 heads, including those maintaining layers, will be directly given aid by Gov. Umali,” Pascua explained.
He said once the inventory is done, a chicken or quail grower with not more than 700 heads can avail of a P10,000 loan.
However, Pascua said there will be no funds released until the inventory is properly done, in compliance with existing Commission on Audit rules.
Anti-AI vaccines will be given to persons directly involved in the culling operations within the one-kilometer radius of barangays affected, Pascua added. The vaccine would be applied daily for ten days to ensure that people who were in the infected sites are safe from the effects of the AI virus.
The governor also thanked residents for their cooperation in combatting the sicknesses AI can cause.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol had announced that Nueva Ecija was infected last Aug. 18.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan then declared a state of calamity in Jaen and San Isidro.
The Bureau of Animal Industry under the Department of Agriculture earlier pledged to pay for the animals culled in big poultry farms.
Umali has assured that even small poultry operators will be given appropriate support from the provincial government.