City zoo now under Parks and Playgrounds Commission

CEBU, Philippines - The management of  the Cebu City Zoo has been transferred from the city veterinary office to one of the commissions under the Mayor’s Office without official notice.

 Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) chief Dr. Alice Utlang said she only learned of the changes when the allocation for the operation of the zoo was no longer included in their office’s budget.

“Yes, the management was transferred to the mayor’s office. It was no longer included in the DVMF 2013 budget. We only learned when the 2013 budget was given. The zoo was no longer listed under DVMF. Okay lang, at least makuha-an ang among trabaho as to the management but ang DVMF’s role nalang is on the health sa mga hayop. I have a veterinarian assigned to regularly visit,” Utlang told The Freeman.

Committee on Environment chairman Councilor Nida Carbera said she also learned about this during the budget deliberations.

“The office of the mayor separate the budget intended for the zoo. They have now their own account for food of the animals and salaries for their job order employees. But the medicines are still in the city vet,” Cabrera said.

City Parks and Playgrounds Commission (PPC) officials in a February 26 press briefing mentioned that their office will now be involved in the plans of making the area a botanical garden.

Parks administrator Arlie Gesta said it is still too early to talk about this development.

“Premature pa kaayo para muhisgot bahin ana. But we got a word nga mao na ang mahitabo,” Gesta said.

But Cabrera pointed out that PPC cannot manage, especially the supervision of the animals.

“Supervision for the care of the animals cannot be transferred to parks but for maintenance of ecological care of the zoo is under my committee,” Cabrera told The FREEMAN.

Zoo manager Giovannie Romarate revealed that he was informed of a plan to make Cebu City Zoo into a “botanical and herbal garden.”

Cabrera said her planned resolution for the city zoo is still on the research stage.

“I have a draft ordinance naming the zoo into Cebu Botanical and Wildlife Rescue Center but it is still on the research stages for the ownership of the property has yet to be discussed with the province of Cebu,” she explained.

Moreover, Cabrera clarified that the management of the zoo has always been with the mayor’s office and DVMF is only there to watch over the welfare and health of the animals.

“The zoo has its own manager under the office of the mayor. But he coordinates with the parks and the vet,” she added.

Since Utlang assumed as the city veterinarian on February 10, 2004, the zoo budget was only P200, 000.

But now, she has no idea how much the zoo is getting since the budget was taken away from their department.  — (FREEMAN)