Sen. Francis Tolentino —Senate PRIB
Sen. Francis Tolentino is calling for an inquiry into the measures being undertaken by the government to prepare for and prevent another outbreak of avian influenza virus in the country. Tolentino, chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, filed Senate Resolution No. 580 urging the concerned agencies of the government to come up with “clear and solid policies” to avert and ward off any possible outbreak of transboundary animal diseases which, he said, is tied to the importation of poultry products. Tolentino cited figures from the Bureau of Animal Industry that as of February, nine of the country’s 17 regions remain affected by avian flu. More than 300,000 poultry deaths have been recorded since the virus hit the country in 2022, Tolentino said. —MELVIN GASCON