A soldier checks his protective equipment before he is sent to a poultry farm in San Luis, Pampanga, to help cull birds infected by the avian influenza virus. (GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER file photo dated August 18, 2017)
MANILA, Philippines — The acquisition of bird flu vaccines from Indonesia will spur the recovery of the poultry industry in the Philippines, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Friday.
The Speaker made the statement as he welcomed the move of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., which is meant to hasten the availability of avian flu vaccines.
Romualdez accompanied President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
On the sidelines of the Summit last Tuesday, Marcos met representatives from leading Indonesian animal health firm PT Vaksindo Satwa Nusantara.
Vaksindo seeks trade cooperation with Philippine partner Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company on veterinary vaccines.
Vaksindo and Univet plan to invest around US$2 million in 2023 to provide the avian flu vaccine in the Philippines.
“The early delivery of Vaksindo vaccines could spur the revitalization of our country’s poultry industry, which has faced serious challenges due to the continuing threat of the avian flu,” Romualdez said.
Due to the threat of bird flu first reported in the country in 2017, the Speaker noted that egg producers confirmed a 20 percent drop in their production.
This event resulted in a spike in egg and chicken prices.
According to Romualdez, the average cost of a medium-sized egg in Metro Manila markets rose from ₱6.90 to ₱8.70, with prices even reaching ₱10 just for a regular-sized egg in some markets.
The price of whole chicken in Metro Manila also ranged from ₱150 to ₱200 as of June this year.
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