Philippines Government is getting prepared to counter any bird flu cases in an effective way as it controlled the spread of SARS earlier. Philippines president Arroyo has appointed two important members of her Government to prevent any possible attack and also increase the awareness to people on possible bird flu attack.
President Arroyo has appointed her Agricultural Secretary Domingo Panganiban as the country's anti-avian flu czar. Panganiban would be responsible for organizing various task forces to control the entry of possible bird flu through infected migratory birds. Secretary Cerge Remonde, head of the Government Mass Media Group, has been appointed to assist Panganiban in creating awareness to people regarding the migratory bird and possible flu fever symptoms in birds.Phillipines Government has sanctioned P52.9-million for the anti-flu program, which involves an information drive on avian flu and the establishment of a crisis preparedness network involving the National Avian Influenza Task Force and barangay bird flu task forces. The task force program is a combined program involving department officials from agriculture, environment and health. In this program 20 important migratory bird destinations will be placed under close watched because they are near poultry farms. Panganiban said, "We’re in a critical stage now with the coming of migratory birds and we hope by the end of December we have already covered the whole area”.
