(Tuesday, 11th day of November 2014)
ILIGAN CITY, PHILIPPINES – Dr. Maria Dahlia M Valera delivered her report of the City Veterinary Office accomplishments as of the 3rd quarter during the scheduled Monday flag raising ceremony November 10, 2014 at Barangay City Hall Anahaw Amphitheater.
According to Dr. Valera they had monitored disease conditions on animals in the city from January to September and have monitored and treated a total of 930 animals on walk-in consultations, call services and outbreak control.
She has reported that to intensify the drive against livestock and poultry disease outbreak, they had conducted veterinary health missions of various barangays wherein they had administered de-wormers, vitamins and vaccines to farm animals, the same also with the Tartanilla Octoberfest Program. They have also examined and de-wormed about eight hundred thirty one (831), one thousand six hundred twenty six (1,626) were given vitamins, and one thirty six (136) was vaccinated against Hog Cholera.
With the City Rabies Prevention and Control Program which aims to commit a “Rabies Free Philippines” by the Year 2020, the City Veterinarian had conducted another mass vaccination reaching to various barangays in Iligan and had accommodated clients who visited their office bringing their pets for vaccination. About two thousand three hundred forty nine (2,349) pets were vaccinated.
The key component of preventing rabies outbreak is the impounding of stray dogs. The city pound makes rounds in the city to catch stray dogs. These are dogs allowed by owners to stray outside their premises. The City Pound has impounded around eight hundred five (805) dogs, and has received one hundred sixty five (165) dogs that had been voluntarily surrendered by their owners.
One of the fastest and most efficient methods to increase the number of upgraded animals is the Dairification Program of the Iligan City Veterinary. Semen of superior dairy bulls is being used with the aim of producing good milking animals. City Veterinarian examined one hundred seventy five (175) heads of cattle and carabaos have been inseminated and one hundred thirteen (113) female animals were diagnosed pregnant.
Dr. Valera further said that they had helped farm families into swine raising by upgrading their pigs through their Swine Artificial Insemination Program. As for the month of September they had served forty four (44) clients.
Meat inspectors have examined seventeen thousand eight hundred ten (17,810) live animals before they are slaughtered to ensure that the buying public purchase meat is fit for human consumption.
Dr. Valera mentioned that “In spite of the of the small size of their office personnel composed of twenty two (22) regular employees and nine (9) casuals we have been working and making our department an income generating office. As of September 2014, our office has contributed a total of PhP 568,603 to the city’s coffer from dog registration fees, city pound redemption, voluntary impounding fees and the anit-mortem and postmortem fees.### Iligan Web