Manila, May 19 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday assured there will be no issue with the supply of chicken meat despite its plan to impose an import ban on poultry products from Brazil.

The looming country-wide ban is expected as Brazil, the Philippines' and the world's largest chicken exporter, reported the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu from a commercial farm in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul.

In a Palace press briefing, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said there are other countries which can serve as alternative sources when the import ban takes effect.

"Yes, we will have to ban the whole country from exporting chicken to us. But, of course, hindi lang naman Brazil ang nagsu-sup...