MANILA, Philippines — Up to 3,737 rodents were collected in Marikina as the city government revived its “rat to cash” program, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro announced yesterday.
Teodoro said 2,211 rodents were turned over by residents to the city environmental management office yesterday and 1,526 rats on Tuesday.
Residents can earn P200 for every rat that they would capture dead or alive.
In a text message, Teodoro said, “P200 po bawat daga na hindi bababa sa 150 grams.”
The local government relaunched the program as part of measures against leptospirosis, a blood infection caused by bacteria transmitted through the urine of rats and other animals. Teodoro said they have so far spent P300,000 for the program.
“Baka umabot tayo sa P1 million sa gastos, pero nakikita nama natin ang kapalit,” he said.
The rats were placed in yellow trash bins and classified as infectious waste.