Cotabato province regains “bird flu-free” status after the Department of Agriculture (DA) reports that avian influenza is no longer present in the area. The DA cites disease control and containment actions that resolve cases affecting backyard duck farms in the province. Under the DA’s Memorandum Circular No. 32, Cotabato is declared free of the disease. Cotabato was previously declared bird flu-free in November 2023 after high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 cases were recorded in 2022 in areas including M’lang, Tulunan, and Carmen. In October of the previous year, the DA reported an H5N8 strain in M’lang that infected backyard duck farms, prompting local investigations and response measures. These include disease investigation, immediate depopulation of affected birds, cleaning and disinfection, movement restrictions, and ongoing surveillance. Both reports attribute the renewed status to successful management of the earlier outbreaks and subsequent eradication of active disease presence in the province.