BY MARCHEL P. ESPINA
An animal rescue center will be established in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental to help livestock during disasters, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said.
Decena joined Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and other officials in a site visit yesterday in Barangay Rizal in the city.
He said the facility, worth P4.79 million, will serve as temporary shelter for animals during disasters, such as typhoons, floods, and landslides.
He said the facility will have animal pens and that the counterpart of the city government will be the site and the manpower.
He added that the center is expected to be completed next year.
Decena also said this will be the third animal rescue center in the province. The other two are in Sagay City and Hinobaan, and both opened last year.
He said the fourth site will be established in Moises Padilla.
“We will have two centers in the north, and another two in the south,” he added.
He said the put up of animal centers in the province is the first in the country, as no other local government unit had established a shelter for livestock during disasters.
He said this is because the province is positioning livestock as an alternative industry next to sugar, adding that this is part of its diversification program.
He also noted that there is a need to establish these centers because there are instances that people, especially those in high-risk areas, refused to evacuate during disasters because of their animals, which are their source of livelihood.*
