Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 17) — More Pampanga farms opted to have their chickens culled after a hefty cut in farm-gate prices, said Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said Thursday.
“Nakita kasi nila na mas advantageous na ipa-cull nila ang mga manok kasi right now, bumagsak presyo ng manok (sa farm-gate), singkwenta nalang per kilo. Samantala ang bayad ng gobyerno for culling their broiler chicken is 70 pesos,” Pinol said in an interview Thursday.
[Translation: They see that it’s more advantageous to have their chickens culled because the farm-gate prices of chicken went down to 50 pesos per kilo. Meanwhile, government is offering to pay 70 pesos for culling their broiler chicken.]
Farm-gate prices are now at ₱50 from the previous ₱70.
Piñol said about 92,000 birds were culled out of the estimated half a million head, lower than the estimated 600,000 offered by 36 farms within the seven-kilometer radius of San Luis, Pampanga — ground zero of the bird flu outbreak.
Read more: More farm owners help gov’t control bird flu outbreak in Pampanga
“Na-reduce kasi meron na rin iba nag-opt na ‘wag na magpa-cull,” he said.
[Translation: It was reduced because others opted out of culling.]
Piñol said the Department of Agriculture (DA) dispatched the first group of 400 soldiers who will help in culling operations in farms within the one-kilometer radius of San Luis. Operations will last for three days.
Meanwhile, Piñol says the government will begin paying affected farmers Tuesday next week.
Ready to compensate
Piñol said the DA set aside ?31 million from its Quick Response Fund for the compensation program.
“We’ll initially pay lahat ng nadepopulate na [all of the depopulated] farms. From DA budget, calamity funds,” he said.
For every culled broiler, farmers will get ₱70. Culled duck will cost around ₱80 per head, quail at ₱10, and cock derby at ₱80.
The DA will also provide a lending program on top of the compensation for farmers.
Piñol said he asked the President for a hundred million peso-fund to help rehabilitate the poultry industry of Pampanga.
“He is just waiting for Secretary Ben Diokno of Budget and Management who is now in Singapore. Pagdating ni Sec. Diokno, we will meet again para kung anuman kailangan [so that whatver is needed for] Pampanga, he will be able to provide,” Piñol said.
To prevent another bird flu outbreak in the future, Pinol directed the activation of the agency’s biosecurity teams, which will conduct an audit of all existing poultry, duck, and livestock farms in Pampanga.
