RP shines at APEC for its bird flu fight

BUSAN, South Korea (via PLDT) — The Philippines was cited as a model among Asian countries at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit here for its successful efforts at preventing the entry of the avian flu virus.

Anthony Golez, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said President Arroyo addressed fellow leaders on the second day of the two-day summit on the measures taken by the Philippines that helped it remain free of the disease, which has decimated the poultry industry in several Asian countries and claimed several human lives.

Golez was part of the Philippine delegation to the summit that tackled issues on trade, corruption, terrorism and the threat of an avian flu pandemic.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Edsel Custodio said the APEC leaders recognized the Philippines’ achievements in preventing the entry of bird flu during the summit meeting, while Golez said APEC and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) look to the Philippines to help them learn how to contain bird flu.

"The President wanted to be more specific in our achievements. She highlighted all the things that we became successful about in our combat against avian flu," Golez said.

He said Mrs. Arroyo also pushed for a Philippine initiative for "cooperation and engagement on the manufacturing or availability of Tamiflu (generic name Oseltamivir) and other vaccines necessary to combat avian flu."

Mrs. Arroyo wants vaccines to be readily available and affordable to countries that need them, Golez said, adding that she pointed out that vaccines are currently sold at exorbitant prices.

"For our part, we would like to provide technical assistance to Indonesia on bird flu prevention practices because the President has noted that Indonesia has been helpful to us with regards to the peace process in Mindanao and in our anti-terrorism campaign," he said.

Golez said Mrs. Arroyo told APEC leaders that the Philippines has remained free of the deadly H5N1 strain since 2003 when it started to spread to several Asian countries. She informed them of the creation of a national avian flu task force, the plans and programs of which could be replicated down to local government units.

"(With) that we will be able to witness a community-based disaster preparedness plan," he said.

The President, according to Golez, also mentioned other measures that helped the Philippines remain bird flu-free, such as banning the importation of exotic and migratory birds as well as poultry products, cordoning off the country’s 24 bird sanctuaries, and setting up bio-security measures at ports of entry.

He said authorities have apprehended about 200 kilos of exotic birds or poultry smuggled by passengers or through other means.

Golez said that during the United Nations-ASEAN summit last month in Jakarta, Indonesia, representatives from other countries have been asking how the Philippines was able to prevent the entry of bird flu.

"Because of our success, the Philippines was chosen to be the lead shepherd in the education and information campaign in the ASEAN disaster management and since that role was given to us, we are bound to tell them our best practices in combating bird flu," he said.

Golez said a videoconference would be held among ASEAN ministers of health and agriculture and other concerned officials on bird flu.