By Mae Singuay

A business group in Bacolod City is not opposing measures against avian influenza (AI), or bird flu, pursuant to a joint executive order by the Bacolod City government and the Negros Occidental provincial government.

On February 5, P1.4 million worth of eggs were intercepted at the BREDCO Port in the Reclamation Area. The 240,000 table egg pieces from Cebu province’s Bantayan Island were immediately incinerated, sparking a backlash from residents and netizens.

However, the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) said they are not against the measures to safeguard the city and province from bird flu.

“A million [peso worth of confiscation] is nothing compared to the poultry industry, which may lose P300 million to P400 million if it is affected by AI,” MBCCI chief executive officer Frank Carbon said.

“We do not want that to happen just like in Iloilo, which was much affected by the bird flu,” he said.

The swine and poultry industries in the province also help the local sugar industry, he added.

Negros Occidental has an P8 billion poultry industry, and its swine industry is pegged at P6 billion.

“Ang mga milyonaryo damo na kwarta, nga kun mawad-an okay lang sila. Pero ang tawo mawad-an obra, kalooy man sa ila,” Carbon explained.

Recently, Victorias Mayor Javi Benitez also expressed his sentiments about the disposed eggs.

“Kanugon nga ginsunog ang amo nga mga itlog. Kuntani nagpangita anay sang maayo nga solusyon imbes nga sunugon. Pwede man lang ma-donar ang amo nga mga itlog sa mga tawo nga gina-gutom,” Benitez said on his Facebook Story.

Meanwhile, city legal officer Carlos Ting, Jr. justified the course of action taken.

“Public health and safety will always be our topmost priority,” Ting said.

“We have given our taskforces the authority to undertake the necessary precautionary measures to safeguard the public from poultry products such as eggs from areas affected by the highly pathogenic bird flu,” he added./MS, WDJ