15 November 2005
Pangasinan governor orders tight watch on migratory birds
LINGAYEN – Gov. Victor Agbayani has ordered the provincial agriculture office to take steps to forewarn people to stay away from migratory birds that may be carrying the dreaded avian flu.
Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis relayed the governor’s order to Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares in the midst of reports that migratory birds are now often seen in many coastal areas of Pangasinan.
Solis said the governor took note that migratory birds, one of which is the heron more commonly called by fisherfolk as “dulakak”, often flock in droves in shallow fishponds to forage for food.
The cities of Dagupan and Alaminos and the towns of Binmaley, San Fabian, Mangaldan, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Agno and Dasol are teeming with fishponds.
The Department of Agriculture through Regional Director Nestor Domenden considers the fishponds as “hang-outs” of migratory birds although the Task Force Bird Flu of the government is only monitoring for now the bird sanctuary in barangay San Miguel, Bani town.
Domenden said the availability of fish food is one of the main reasons migratory birds land in Pangasinan during their trans-continent flight. The other reason, he added, is the availability of shelter areas for the winged ones which the province is also richly endowed with.
Solis said the governor asked Almendares to order all municipal agriculture officers to conduct an information drive in their areas to inform the people not to touch, hunt or eat migratory birds.
Hunting them, he said, might disturb the migratory birds and force these to mix with local birds and fowls which could lead to a much faster spread of the avian flu virus in extreme cases to human beings.
Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis relayed the governor’s order to Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares in the midst of reports that migratory birds are now often seen in many coastal areas of Pangasinan.
Solis said the governor took note that migratory birds, one of which is the heron more commonly called by fisherfolk as “dulakak”, often flock in droves in shallow fishponds to forage for food.
The cities of Dagupan and Alaminos and the towns of Binmaley, San Fabian, Mangaldan, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Agno and Dasol are teeming with fishponds.
The Department of Agriculture through Regional Director Nestor Domenden considers the fishponds as “hang-outs” of migratory birds although the Task Force Bird Flu of the government is only monitoring for now the bird sanctuary in barangay San Miguel, Bani town.
Domenden said the availability of fish food is one of the main reasons migratory birds land in Pangasinan during their trans-continent flight. The other reason, he added, is the availability of shelter areas for the winged ones which the province is also richly endowed with.
Solis said the governor asked Almendares to order all municipal agriculture officers to conduct an information drive in their areas to inform the people not to touch, hunt or eat migratory birds.
Hunting them, he said, might disturb the migratory birds and force these to mix with local birds and fowls which could lead to a much faster spread of the avian flu virus in extreme cases to human beings.
