Bonding time with 'Bantay'

MANILA, Philippines - It was truly a special day for man’s best friend as several activities were lined-up for the back-to-back celebration of World Rabies Day and Animal Welfare Week Kick-off at the Quezon City Memorial Circle last Sept. 29, 2014. The National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee (NRPCP) led by the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) in coordination with Sanofi Pasteur, Merial, Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) and the Philippine Animal Hospital Association (PAHA) organized the event.

“Ang Alaga Mong Mahal”

The first week of October is Animal Welfare Week and the kick-off celebration started early with a Dog Walk around the QC Memorial Circle perimeter. A pet blessing was also conducted as part of the morning festivities.

A couple of K-9 units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were honored as Hero Dogs for their invaluable help in the military operations. The Hero Dogs’ handler and partner received a certificate of recognition.

Several non-profit organizations also took part in the celebration and entertained the 120 elementary students from Mines Elementary School and Project 6 Elementary School in Quezon City who attended the event. Pinoy Malikhain, a non-profit organization from Marikina City, held a puppet show while the AKF performed a drama skit, both highlighting the importance of rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership.

Meanwhile, selected students from Fortune High School, Marikina City performed singing, “Ang Alaga Mong Mahal” (Your Beloved Pet) which won first place in the jingle-making contest organized by the Marikina City Veterinary Office as part of its World Rabies Day celebration last September 28.

The celebration of the Animal Welfare Week is mandated by the Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 which aims to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines.     

Towards a Rabies-free Philippines

The one-day celebration culminated at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Auditorium in the afternoon with the declaration of new rabies-free zones in celebration of World Rabies Day.

Ten new municipalities were declared rabies-free zones in addition to the 15 areas that were previously declared. The newly-declared municipalities include: ALQUEREZ Island (Alabat, Quezon, and Perez) in the Province of Quezon; Bucas Grande Island (Socorro) in Surigao del Norte; and the islands of Linapacan, Kalayaan, Cagayancillo, Magsaysay, Araceli, and Cuyo in Palawan. The mayors of each municipality along with representatives from their respective Provincial Veterinary  Offices, Provincial Health Offices, Regional Veterinary Offices, Regional Health Offices,  and Municipal Health Offices accepted the plaques of recognition.

A ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) and DA-BAI was also part of the program.  The forged MOA signifies the unity between the government and professional organizations in working together against rabies.

Rabies is a neglected and highly fatal disease killing 200-300 Filipinos every year. Children under 15 years old are the most vulnerable to rabies infection.

Initiated in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the World Rabies Day (WRD) is celebrated annually on September 28th to raise global awareness about rabies.  International and national human and animal health organizations, human and veterinary public health professionals, non-governmental organizations, universities, corporate and private partners are working together to prevent and control this neglected disease.

The events for WRD range from television broadcasts, radio shows, and newspaper articles, to conferences and seminars, school-based education, and outreach programs. It was truly a special day for man’s best friend as several activities were lined-up for the back-to-back celebration of World Rabies Day and Animal Welfare Week Kick-off at the Quezon City Memorial Circle last Sept. 29, 2014. The National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee (NRPCP) led by the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) in coordination with Sanofi Pasteur, Merial, Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC), the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) and the Philippine Animal Hospital Association (PAHA) organized the event.

“Ang Alaga Mong Mahal”

The first week of October is Animal Welfare Week and the kick-off celebration started early with a Dog Walk around the QC Memorial Circle perimeter. A pet blessing was also conducted as part of the morning festivities.

A couple of K-9 units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were honored as Hero Dogs for their invaluable help in the military operations. The Hero Dogs’ handler and partner received a certificate of recognition.

Several non-profit organizations also took part in the celebration and entertained the 120 elementary students from Mines Elementary School and Project 6 Elementary School in Quezon City who attended the event. Pinoy Malikhain, a non-profit organization from Marikina City, held a puppet show while the AKF performed a drama skit, both highlighting the importance of rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership.

Meanwhile, selected students from Fortune High School, Marikina City performed singing, “Ang Alaga Mong Mahal” (Your Beloved Pet) which won first place in the jingle-making contest organized by the Marikina City Veterinary Office as part of its World Rabies Day celebration last September 28.

The celebration of the Animal Welfare Week is mandated by the Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 which aims to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines.     

Towards a Rabies-free Philippines

The one-day celebration culminated at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Auditorium in the afternoon with the declaration of new rabies-free zones in celebration of World Rabies Day.

Ten new municipalities were declared rabies-free zones in addition to the 15 areas that were previously declared. The newly-declared municipalities include: ALQUEREZ Island (Alabat, Quezon, and Perez) in the Province of Quezon; Bucas Grande Island (Socorro) in Surigao del Norte; and the islands of Linapacan, Kalayaan, Cagayancillo, Magsaysay, Araceli, and Cuyo in Palawan. The mayors of each municipality along with representatives from their respective Provincial Veterinary  Offices, Provincial Health Offices, Regional Veterinary Offices, Regional Health Offices,  and Municipal Health Offices accepted the plaques of recognition.

A ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) and DA-BAI was also part of the program.  The forged MOA signifies the unity between the government and professional organizations in working together against rabies.

Rabies is a neglected and highly fatal disease killing 200-300 Filipinos every year. Children under 15 years old are the most vulnerable to rabies infection.

Initiated in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the World Rabies Day (WRD) is celebrated annually on September 28th to raise global awareness about rabies.  International and national human and animal health organizations, human and veterinary public health professionals, non-governmental organizations, universities, corporate and private partners are working together to prevent and control this neglected disease.

The events for WRD range from television broadcasts, radio shows, and newspaper articles, to conferences and seminars, school-based education, and outreach programs.