BATANGAS CITY -- The city chief veterinarian here is seeking an amendment to the the 1997 Anti-Rabies Ordinance to boost the campaign to make Batangas City rabies-free.
Office of the City Veterinary and Agricultural Services (OCVAS) chief Dr. Macario Hornilla, who is also vice chairperson of the Batangas City Rabies Control Council, made the proposal following the conference-cum-dialogue with council members Wednesday.
Hornilla said the proposed amendments will shorten the impounding period for stray dogs from 10 to only three days to save on expenses on dog food and also to decongest the cages to make the City Pound’s temporary dog shelter comfortable for impounded animals.
“This proposal attentive to the shortened impounding period would enable the pound facility to also hasten the processing of the dogs that are up for adoption by their foster owners,” he said.
According to Hornilla, the city government has already allocated for next year’s budget the rehabilitation of the dog pound or shelter to accommodate more dogs amid criticisms by some sectors from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).
He suggested the inclusion of the City Legal Officer as regular member of the council to help in the legal matters and implementation of the ordinance.
He also disclosed that he has already sought the assistance of the Department of Education (DepEd) city schools division to intensify information dissemination in schools to prevent rabies.
The proposals are aimed at achieving a rabies-free city in pursuit of the country’s goal for a rabies-free Philippines by 2020.
He cited the proposal to declare the city’s Isla Verde a rabies-free area.
The city veterinary chief also proposed hikes in the penalty stipulated in the City Ordinance’s Sections 7, 10, 13, 16 and 17 which exact the fine of only PHP100 for the first offense; PHP300 -- second offense and PHP500 -- third offense.
In response, City Councilor Sergio Atienza said that based on the Local Government Code of 1991, the highest fine which could be meted out to the violator of the ordinance is up to PHP 5,000.
Atienza, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city legislative council) Committee on Health and Public Welfare, is crafting the amendment of Section 5 in the said ordinance on the organization of the Rabies Control Committee at the village level.
The move is seen to decentralize the city’s dog pound by deputizing dog trappers at the barangay level and set up their respective barangay dog impounding area.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) representative also confirmed that there is no available anti-rabies vaccine in their office since February this year as the supply coming from the Department of Health has not arrived.
Owing to the situation, the CHO is currently negotiating with a private company for the purchase of the rabies vaccine.
The country observes “Rabies Awareness Month” every March.
Also, OCVAS head said they are now planning various activities for the World Rabies Day observance on Sept. 27. (Maroe T. (Genosa/PNA)
