THE City Government of Victorias, led by Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca, inaugurated its first Veterinary Hospital on Tuesday, March 22.
Pastor Donald Acha led the blessing and dedication of the building.
This facility is considered as the first veterinary teaching hospital on Negros Island.
It will also pave the way for the opening of Doctor in Veterinary Medicine and allied courses, in partnership with the Central Philippines State University.
The construction of the veterinary hospital was conceptualized in 2016 in aid of the flourishing livestock industry and the Agri-Eco Tourism (AET) Program of the province.
It is in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), which is part of the thrust of the administration of Palanca and is supported by the members of the Sanguniang Panlungsod and Third District representative Jose Francisco Benitez.
The facility will handle veterinary procedures and provide needed assistance to game fowl owners, backyard hogs, and native chicken raisers, ensuring better and quality service to Victoriahanons and its neighboring towns and municipalities in the region.
Councilor Abelardo “JunB” Bantug III, committee chair of Agriculture, welcomed the guests and congratulated the people behind the establishment of the City Veterinary Hospital.
City Planning and Development Officer and Project Monitoring Team Chair Dr. Evangeline Alo shared the project’s background.
Alo said the facility is part of the sustainability component of the AET program, which is to professionalize the management of the farms and shift from mere production to creating farming enterprises and tourism destination farms, and the city has then provided scholarships in agriculture and agri-related courses.
“We thought that if we were to be proactive in the management of the poultry and livestock sector, we would need to have more veterinarians and a veterinary hospital to aggressively support the animal industry through science-based animal disease prevention and control,” she added.
On behalf of the president of the City’s partner institution - Central Philippines State University (CPSU), Dr. Aladino Moraca, CPSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Fernando Abello shared the university’s accomplishments, updates on the school’s quality programs, and plans for the construction of additional veterinary academic buildings.
He expressed his joy and congratulated the LGU and CPSU Victorias on the new Veterinary Hospital.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena also graced the event and congratulated the City Government.
“This will become a part of the Provincial development,” he said, and added that this will help maintain the province's status as number one in terms of backyard swine raising and new ventures in livestock such as rabbit production.
Department of Agriculture RFO VI Regulatory Division Chief and President of the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association Dr. Jonic Natividad commended the efforts of the Provincial Veterinary Office in keeping the Province ASF-free and Bird Flu-free.
He also ensured their continued assistance to their partners in the local government.
“The support of the Department of Agriculture is always there for the City of Victorias and the Province of Negros Occidental,” he said.
Philippine Veterinary Medical Association Negros Occidental President Dr. Ma. Corazon Acaba lauded the project and said, “This is a precious investment in line with the animal industry.”
Palanca said that the Veterinary Hospital started as a dream, “This is a fruit of research, dreams and of what we really need in this part of the country.
He also acknowledged the efforts of everyone greatly instrumental and actively involved in the project.
Also present during the inauguration were City Councilors Hermie Millan, Dexter Senido, Teresita Bartolome, Abelardo Bantug III, Derek Palanca, Audie Malaga, and Sulpicio Montinola Jr.; Punong Barangays Edna Durana, Ana Mae Claro, and Lucia Duran; City Veterinarian Dr. John Michael Cabuguason, Engr. Mary Jean Majaducon, CCIO-Head Joy Famini, City Health Officer Dr. Richard Garlitos, Deputy Chief of Police of Victorias City Police Station PMAJ Joy Ellaga, CPSU-Victorias Campus Administrator Noel Fordente, CPSU Moises Padilla Campus Administrator Dr. Patrocenio Gonzales, veterinarians and agriculturists from the Province, and program implementers, and stakeholders.
Moreover, the awarding of winners of the various Rabies Awareness Month competitions such as Short Film Making Contest, Mural Painting Contest, and Outstanding Rabies Implementers, followed.