Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero said the province has opened three new facilities to treat, test and shelter animals as part of the provincial government’s commitment to strengthen animal care in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act.
The newly inaugurated Provincial Veterinary Office, the Animal Shelter Building and the Animal Diaagnostics Laboratory are housed in one compound in Barangay Cogon in the town of Juban, and offer services like a one-stop-shop for the convenience of animal lovers and their pets, such as diagnostic tests, pharmacy, African Swine Fever (ASF) laboratory test, surgery, animal shelter and isolation, and consultation.
“Kaisa ang Sorsogon na naglalayong protektahan ang mga karapatan ng mga hayop alinsunod sa Republic Act 8484 o ang Animals Welfare Act of 1998 at RA 10631 na nag-amyenda ng ilang seksyon ng orihinal na batas,” Escudero said at the inauguration on January 28.
The veteran legislator has supported the passage of both laws when he was a representative of Sorsogon in 1998 and as senator in 2013, when amendments were introduced via RA 10631.
He said the new facilities will not only benefit abandoned dogs and cats, but also farm and work animals.
“I thank my team in the provincial government for completing this undertaking at the soonest possible time. Siyempre, pagpapasalamat rin sa aking asawa, na kasalukuyang Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) spokesperson sa bansa, dahil sa kanyang todong pagsuporta sa nasabing proyekto and for agreeing to be one of its patrons,” Escudero added.
The governor said it is public knowledge that he and his wife, celebrity and brand ambassador Heart Evangelista, are happy owners of several “aspins” (asong Pinoy) and “puspins” (pusang Pinoy) that is why the Sorsogon project for animals is something close to their hearts.
“Hindi naman sa inyo kaila na bukod kay Panda na isang ‘aspin’ ay marami kaming alagang mga aso at pusa sa bahay. Bahagi na sila ng aming pamilya. Kaya para sa katulad nating mga animal lovers, para po sa inyong mga alaga ang bagong shelter and diagnostics laboratory na ito,” Escudero, who is running for senator in the May elections, said.
“Hindi lamang tao ang binibigyan naming ng pagkalinga. Hayop man, kailangan nila ng pagmamahal at tamang pag-aaruga,” he added.
In her video message, Evangelista said she is delighted that finally, the province now has its our own animal shelter and animal diagnostics laboratory that go with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.
“Personally, this newly built provincial animal shelter was a dream come true. As an advocate and spokesperson for the PAWS, I have long wanted to see a shelter for abandoned, maltreated and homeless animals of Sorsogon,” she shared.
“Noong bago pa lamang na nanunungkulan si Gov. Chiz, nabanggit ko sa kanya na gusto kong magtayo ng isang animal shelter. Hindi na pala kailangan sapagkat nasa plano na ito ng Office of the Veterinarian at kailangan lang ng suporta upang makapagpatayo ng gusali,” Evangelista noted, adding that she is happy to support it and become one of its patrons.
Provincial veterinarian Dr. John Ashley M. de Castro thanked the Escudero couple for the speedy construction of the animal facilities, as he vowed that his office will be in forefront of educating and disseminating information on animal welfare, care and control, among others.