Thursday, March 20, 2008
Apas, Tisa recognized for eliminating rabies cases in their areas
THE Cebu City Council the other day commended Barangays Apas and Tisa for successfully eliminating rabies cases among humans and animals in their urisdictions.
Apas, in particular, used to have the highest number of rabies cases among north district barangays the past years, while Tisa was among the few rabies-positive barangays in the south district.
The council also recognized 38 other barangays, which have no recorded rabies cases since 2004, 24 of which are in the north district while the rest are in the south district.
Dissemination
In a resolution authored by City Councilor Christopher Alix, the council said Apas and Tisa actively responded to the City Department of Veterinary Medicine’s (DVMF) animal control program to make barangays rabies-free.
The program includes information dissemination, education campaign, impounding of stray dogs and cats, and anti-rabies vaccination.
In a March 4 letter addressed to Alix, Dr. Alice Utlang, DVMF chief, requested that the council recognize the two barangays for the success of the program in their territories.
“This office (suggests) a commendation for the two barangays for being models in the pursuit of rabies eradication,” she said.
With dogs alone numbering around 70,000 in Cebu City, the DMVF is targeting a rabies-free Cebu City by 2010, and is endorsing an ordinance requiring the registration of house pets, specifically cats and dogs, that is pending before the City Council.
The proposed measure, authored by City Councilor Edgardo Labella, mandates DVMF to issue a citation ticket, which will contain basic information about the owner and the pet, the violation committed and other instructions.
It also requires DVMF to conduct house-to-house visits in all barangays in the city to determine the presence of unregistered pets.
During the visit, owners will be given the chance to have their animals enlisted and vaccinated for P150.
The amount already includes a tag and collar and the privilege to avail themselves (pets) of vitamins and other forms of treatment at the DVMF office.
If the owner refuses, they will be issued with citation tickets.
Labella also has a pending measure that empowers DVMF to issue tickets to owners who will leave their pets inside their cars with closed windows. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 20, 2008 issue)
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