‘Nerve center’ set up for bird flu watch

As migratory birds began arriving in Philippine territory, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced a task force that would closely watch the country’s 55 wetland areas and boost government campaign against the deadly avian flu virus.

DENR Secretary Michael Defensor issued Special Order 878 on Oct. 28 creating Task Force Wild Bird (TFWB), which will serve as the "nerve center" for implementing measures to prevent local fowl and humans from venturing into migratory birds’ wading areas.

The TFWB is also tasked to undertake a massive media and educational campaign in coordination with local government units (LGUs) that have jurisdiction over communities within and around these wetland areas.

DENR Undersecretary Armando de Casto will lead the TFWB with DENR Public Affairs Office chief Virgilio Vitug as the head of its operations.

"Migratory birds have begun arriving in the country since early October," Defensor said. "This could pose a danger to the country (due to) the spread of the avian (influenza) virus in the Asian region. The bird flu might affect the country through these migratory birds."

He added the government estimated some 100,000 migratory birds would flock to the country during the cold season.

Defensor directed the TFWB to coordinate with the National Task Force Avian Flu headed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), as the task force would also directly supervise the regional TFWBs, which will be composed of the regional executive directors and DENR’s most senior wildlife experts — the Regional Technical Directors for Protected Areas and Wildlife Zone Management Specialists.

The TFWB has also been given the blanket authority to tap any offices and personnel under the DENR throughout the country, including experts in the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), Forestry Management Bureau (FMB), Ecosystems an Research Development Bureau (ERDB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Lands Management Bureau (LMB), and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

"Members of the monitoring teams will be trained to spot signs of infected wild birds and follow protocol on how to report incidents of such sightings to proper authorities," Defensor said.

The DENR earlier issued a "priority list" of wetland areas in the country that need close monitoring as it has the most number of migratory birds as counted by the DENR wildlife officers.

Topping the list are Naujan Lake in Oriental Mindoro, Candaba Swamp in Pampanga and the Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, which all registered with the highest number of wild birds this year, according to the PAWBs 2005 Annual Wildbird Census. The PAWB monitored as many as 14,000 wild birds in these areas.