THE Department of Agriculture has formally declared Davao del Sur free from avian influenza, marking a swift containment effort following a lone outbreak late last year.
In a memorandum circular, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that the province has met all requirements to regain its disease-free status after a November 2025 case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Subtype H5. The infection, detected in a backyard duck farm in the municipality of Magsaysay, prompted immediate intervention from local and national authorities.
“Declaring Davao del Sur avian influenza-free is not just a technical milestone—it is a critical step in securing our food supply, restoring investor confidence, and protecting the livelihoods of our poultry farmers,” Tiu Laurel said. “A stable, disease-free environment encourages investments, supports job creation across the value chain, and ultimately ensures better and more reliable income for our farmers.”
The DA noted the swift response that adhered strictly to established protocols, including rapid depopulation of affected birds, disinfection, movement controls, and intensified surveillance. These measures were implemented by the provincial government in coordination with the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XI and the Bureau of Animal Industry.
Subsequent monitoring within designated 1-kilometer and 7-kilometer zones yielded negative results for influenza type A virus, indicating no further spread. Authorities also completed both initial and final cleaning and disinfection operations, satisfying international benchmarks for disease control.
The declaration aligns with standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health, which allows areas to regain avian influenza-free status at least 28 days after containment measures are completed and surveillance confirms the absence of infection.
While the announcement underscores the effectiveness of rapid-response mechanisms, it also highlights the persistent vulnerability of small-scale poultry operations. The affected farm in Magsaysay was a backyard facility, a sector often characterized by limited biosecurity measures compared to commercial producers.
Davao del Sur’s recovery is not without precedent. The province similarly regained avian influenza-free status in 2022 after an outbreak of H5N1, suggesting that local authorities have developed institutional experience in managing such incidents. However, repeated incursions point to ongoing risks tied to poultry movement, migratory birds, and gaps in farm-level safeguards.
The agriculture department emphasized that any new confirmed case would trigger immediate reporting and could revoke the province’s disease-free designation. This conditional status reflects a broader policy approach that balances recognition of containment success with vigilance against reintroduction.
For the poultry industry, the declaration is expected to restore market confidence and stabilize local supply chains. Yet analysts note that sustained investment in biosecurity—particularly among backyard raisers—will be crucial to preventing future outbreaks and reducing the economic disruptions that accompany them.
As the country continues to guard against transboundary animal diseases, Davao del Sur’s experience illustrates both the strengths and limits of current response systems.
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