The provincial government of Cebu has imposed a 45-day ban on the entry of live poultry and several types of birds from Leyte after Avian Influenza (AI) was detected in Kananga, Leyte two weeks ago.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in Executive Order No. 6 series of 2024, a copy of which was released on Tuesday but took effect a day before, said the prohibition covers gamefowls, wild birds, pigeons, pet birds, day-old chicks, pullets, ducks, and quails and is a bid to protect Cebu’s PHP12 billion poultry industry.

The same EO said poultry products from Leyte may enter Cebu ports but are subject to compliance with existing regulations.

“All component cities and municipalities (including those with seaports), the Philippine National Police, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, and Cebu Port Authority are tasked with the strict implementation of this order,” it reads.

Garcia said the province remains free from the bird flu virus but noted that mortalities in a poultry farm in Leyte “raise concern about potential AI outbreaks and environmental impact.”

She said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued guidelines on poultry movement during AI outbreaks.

She invoked the Local Government Code as a basis for issuing the order to protect the local poultry industry.

On Monday, the DA in Eastern Visayas reported that at least 60,000 chickens were culled in a private chicken breeder farm in Kananga, Leyte after two chickens turned positive for bird flu during a rapid test conducted last March 13. (PNA)